The surprise guests during the Super Bowl halftime show shed light on Drake’s past relationships. Drake ranted about exes before he performed “You Broke My Heart” during his Anita Max Win tour in Melbourne, Australia, just hours before SZA and Serena Williams made a surprising featured appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
Drake and SZA, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, were in a relationship from 2008 to 2009. Drake ultimately revealed their romantic involvement a decade later.
SZA goes on tour with the Compton rapper for his upcoming Grand National Tour, starting in April of this year.
Meanwhile, Drake and Serena Williams have a longstanding history. Since 2011, rumors have circulated that Drake and Serena Williams are a couple, following the Hotline Bling rapper’s frequent attendance at her tennis matches.
Drake even seemingly went on X about their romance, tweeting, “@SerenaWilliams, I cannot wait to put it on you and make you sweat… during our match this weekend.”
In 2015, witnesses spotted the two cuddling and making out at a Cincinnati restaurant.
(L) Drake and SZA photographed together; Courtesy of AOL; and (R) Drake is sitting with the audience at the 2011 Rogers Day Cup tournament that Serena Williams competed in; Photo Credit: Getty Images
Drake also hinted through his music, which had listeners further speculating that something was going on.
In a 2017 song, Nothing into Something, which was the same year Serena married Alexis Ohanian, Drake raps, “I’m still posted up where you first found me. Did I just read that you just got engaged on me? I heard from your friend, you couldn’t even tell me. Or better yet wait on me.”
Also in his 2022 song, Middle of the Ocean, he raps, ”Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie. He claim we don’t got a problem but, no boo, it is like you coming for sushi”.
Alexis later took to social media, tweeting, “The reason I stay winning is because I’m relentless about being the absolute best at whatever I do, including being the best groupie for my wife & daughter.”
Williams replied happily with heart-face emojis to her husband’s post.
(L-R): SZA and Kendrick Lamar performing together during Super Bowl LIX halftime; Photo Credit: AP Photo/George Walker IV; Serena Williams guest appearance as part of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show; Photo Credit: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images; and Kendrick Lamar onstage for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show; Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
In the song, Not Like Us, Lamar called out Drake in his lyrics while referencing Williams, rapping, “From Alondra down to Central, better not speak on Serena.”
Serena admitted during last year’s Essence Festival that she’s a supporter of Lamar saying Not Like Us is a song you can crop walk to.
Lamar is seizing every opportunity to intensify his long-standing conflict with Drake.
