Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Eminem, Super Bowl, NFL
Poppy Bilderbeck
NFL bosses have denied Eminem was 'forbidden' from taking the knee during his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Last night, February 13, the Los Angeles Rams took on the Cincinnati Bengals, however it was the Lose Yourself rapper who truly stole the show.
Jumping onstage alongside Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige, 50 Cent, Anderson .Paak, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre, Eminem sparked a divided response online when he decided to take the knee.
However, while it was initially reported the rapper had been banned from making the gesture, NFL bosses have since denied doing so.
Reporter Mike Freeman took to Twitter to dismiss the claims that NFL bosses had warned the rapper against taking the knee.
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'The part of the show were Eminem kneeled? Report stated it was against the wishes of the NFL. However, NFL spokesman Brian McCarhy told me that report is false. The NFL watched every rehearsal this week and that element was included. Just passing along', he said.
McCarhy seemingly confirmed this to Fox News, calling the report 'erroneous'.
'We watched all elements of the show during multiple rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem was going to do that,' he said.
While many online viewed Eminem's decision to take a knee after performing Lose Yourself as 'legend behaviour,' right-wing conservatives called it out as 'wokeness'. 'Eminem taking the knee during the halftime show totally ruined his performance! Especially when he went political, total foolery! What a peformance from the others! It really took me back to my youth, banging out NWA and Dre on those cassette tapes! #SuperBowl #AIDS', one said.
However, a supportive fan wrote: 'Eminem is the f*cking [goat] bro, massive W for taking the knee and the stadium erupted for Lose Yourself. Plus Kendrick looks clean af and Mary hit them notes like a queen. Legends only.'
A third commented: 'Eminem taking the knee was special af. He showed solidarity and that meant a lot. #HalfTimeShow.'
The concept of taking the knee in protest of racism and police brutality first began in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid made the gesture at an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers during the playing of the US national anthem.
The gesture has since been replicated by many athletes across the world.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact Stop Hate UK by visiting their website www.stophateuk.org