Rapper Eminem delivered a memorable performance during the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday by taking a knee at the end of it, reportedly in a protest tribute to former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
This year’s Super Bowl halftime show is already being regarded as one of the best performances ever with performances from iconic American hip hop artists of the 2000s, including Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.
Wow. @50cent #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/8UlJW57gEX
— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022
MARY. J. BLIGE. 👑 #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/jRKg9F1ELV
— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022
NFL faces continued criticism over Super Bowl halftime show censorship
But the moment of Eminem kneeling, with Dre playing the piano next to him, in a tribute to Tupac Shakur, towards the end of the halftime show, had people talking as earlier reports had said the NFL had banned the rapper from kneeling.
“The league nixed a plan by Eminem to kneel, Colin Kaepernick-style,” The Puck reported on Sunday.
Eminem the GOAT for kneeling even after the NFL told him not to do it pic.twitter.com/b64NL2Rz63
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 14, 2022
Eminem has not yet commented on his intentions, including whether his actions were to kneel in solidarity with Kaepernick, who began protesting against police brutality and racial violence against African Americans by kneeling during the national anthem.
Kaepernick started his kneeling protest in 2016, with other athletes joining him over the years, although he was ostracized by the league.
Other moments during the halftime show were also reportedly changed to remove references to police violence against African Americans.
On September 1, 2016, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid took a knee during the national anthem in protest. Nate Boyer stood next to them with his right hand over his heart: https://t.co/zhSLxF5MLx (photo via @GettyImages) pic.twitter.com/LECoVmA9l0
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 17, 2018
During Kendrick Lamar’s performance, lyrics in “Alright” referencing police brutality—”We had po-po/Wanna kill us dead in the street for sure”—were omitted during the performance.
The NFL reportedly asked Dr. Dre to remove the lyric “still not loving police” from “Still D.R.E,” the final performed in the show.
Dre Day. @KendrickLamar @DrDre #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/W9tFZfSRsf
— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022
League spokesman Brian McCarthy suggested the NFL was aware that Eminem was going to kneel because he had made the gesture during rehearsals, The New York Times reported.
The visible action taken by Eminem caused viewers flock to Twitter to share their reactions, with some sharing support for the rapper.
OMG!!!!!!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!! THE GREATEST HALFTIME SHOW IVE EVER SEEN!!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 14, 2022
Eminem is the man. Great to see him take the knee after his performance.👏👏 #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/fqmsag66Fc
— Max (@nordstrom_max) February 14, 2022
so i know that everyone in this bar being mostly silent for the halftime show until eminem came on ISNT a hate crime…but it feels like it is
— first-mate prance (@bocxtop) February 14, 2022
nfl & pepsi: there will be no kneeling during the #halftimeshow performance
eminem: #superbowl pic.twitter.com/8yVOWcl2MT
— abbott elementary alum🍎📚🎓 (@iamwandaxlust) February 14, 2022
Some emphasized that Eminem’s intentions need to be validated to confirm if it was in solidarity with the movement against systemic racism amidst the outpouring of support for him online and elsewhere.
For the record, I think I know why Eminem was kneeling, but if it’s related to Colin Kaepernick, he should say that. Not a criticism. But would be a powerful addition to the conversation.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 14, 2022
When Beyonce performed in the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show, with dancers dressed in tribute to the Black Panthers, conservatives were furious at her for politicizing her performance.
The NFL has faced criticism in the past for its treatment of Kaepernick, despite other players kneeling during the national anthem, including statements that disciplined athletes for shows of public protest.
The Super Bowl halftime show, which took place in the Los Angeles area for the first time in 30 years, was a showdown between the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
The LA Rams would go on to defeat Cincinnati 23-20.
Watch the full 2022 Super Bowl halftime show here.
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