The NFL say they were ‘aware’ Eminem would take the knee during the Super Bowl half-time show.
The NFL have rejected suggestions that they tried to stop Eminem from taking the knee during the Super Bowl LVI half-time show on Sunday night.
The rapper was part of a star-studded lineup, alongside Los Angeles born icons Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar, as well as 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.
Reports ahead of the match between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals have suggested the league had requested that Eminem did not take the knee.
There were also suggestions on social media that the NFL were against the rapper making the gesture. However, the organisation denied these claims after the game, which the Rams won 23-20.
Eminem takes a knee.
The league told him not to, he did it anyway. pic.twitter.com/zoaYrGgCLn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 14, 2022
NFL denies it tried to stop Eminem from taking the knee during Super Bowl half-time show.
“We watched all elements of the show during multiple rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem was going to do that,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said after Sunday’s game in Los Angeles.
Taking the knee is an anti-racist gesture made popular by former NFL star Colin Kaepernick, who has not played in the league since 2016, with many feeling the quarter-back was blackballed for his protest.
The NFL reportedly had requested that some lyrics from the performance – that involved anti-police sentiment – be censored.
Kendrick Lamar towed the line by omitting his “and we hate po-po” line from his performance of To Pimp a Butterfly single Alright, but lead performer Dr Dre was not so obedient.
While performing Still D.R.E alongside Snoop Dogg, the 56-year-old made sure the line ‘still not loving police’ was heard by everyone in the SoFi Stadium.
The NFL would not allow Eminem to kneel "Colin Kaepernick-style" during tonight's halftime show, per @eriqgardner.
The league also asked Dr. Dre to remove his lyric on "still not loving police" in his 1999 hit, 'Still Dre'. pic.twitter.com/QqY08trEuR
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 14, 2022
NFL denies it tried to stop Eminem from taking the knee during Super Bowl half-time show.
While the NFL might have been annoyed by these forms of protest, the show went down a storm with viewers in the stadium and at home worldwide, with many calling it the greatest half-time show in Super Bowl history.
Dr Dre and Snoop started off the Super Bowl Halftime show! pic.twitter.com/3aaHfGzX2h
— Dallas Cowboys Collaboration (@mailman_phil) February 14, 2022
