While plenty of people were vibing to Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, none did it quite like Bandit—the internet-famous white cockatoo who might just deserve a spot as one of Lamar’s backup dancers.
In the video below, Bandit goes on a full journey while listening to the performance—starting with curiosity and intrigue, then trying to find the beat, fluffing up in excitement, attempting his own dance moves, and finally headbanging with full commitment.
@banditthecockatoo Bandit discovers @Kendrick Lamar and he likes it. #BanditTheCockatoo #kendricklamar #tvoff #kendrick #parrotsoftiktok #talkingparrot #cockatoo #umbrellacockatoosoftiktok #umbrellacockatoo #talkingbird #parrot #attitude #personality #bird #birb #birdsoftiktok #birbtiktok #birbturd #birbtok #birdsofinsta #cockatoosofinstagram #parrotsofinstagram #tiktokfamous #dancing #dancingbird #dancingparrot
One thing is certain: in the ongoing feud between Lamar and Drake, Bandit is firmly Team Kendrick.
Naturally, the video sparked some hilarious comments.
“Even animals are feeling this diss track,” one person joked. Another added, “He’s feeling the power of KDot!” referencing one of Lamar’s early stage names.
One fan even wrote, “I was waiting for him to yell MUSSSSSSTARRRRD!”—a nod to the viral moment when Lamar shouted out his co-producer Mustard in TV Off.
While Bandit has no clue about the diss lyrics, he, like many parrots, responds to rhythm and beat. Scientists are still unraveling why birds react to music the way they do, but they definitely have individual preferences. Bandit clearly enjoys hip-hop, but other parrots might be more into classical. Interestingly, it’s said that most parrots don’t like electronica—so don’t expect them to rave anytime soon.
That said, Bandit’s tastes aren’t limited to rap. Turns out, he’s also a fan of Billy Idol.
With over 300K followers, Bandit has been a TikTok sensation for years, winning fans with his dance moves, food antics, and ongoing “rivalry” with his mean ol’ dad (who dares to touch his stuff). And he’s not the first cockatoo to steal the spotlight—Upworthy has also covered a mischievous one that chased its family around the house and another that went viral for ripping up anti-bird spikes like a true anarchist.