Entertainment
Eminem takes the knee during epic Super Bowl 2022 halftime show after ‘being forbidden’: ‘Don’t tell a GOAT how to behave’
Eminem performed at the Super Bowl halftime show (Picture: Getty)
Eminem was praised by fans after he took the knee during the Super Bowl halftime show, after his performance of Lose Yourself.
The rapper was on stage with Dr Dre, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg – with surprise cameos from 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak.
According to reports, bosses had asked the star not to take the knee before the show, something he didn’t listen to as he took a moment to kneel at the end of his track.
He kept his head in his hands on stage, while the show continued around him.
Fans were living for the move, and fled to Twitter to praise Slim Shady for the stand.
‘The #NFL told Eminem not to kneel during the halftime show, but Eminem ended up taking a kneel anyway. #SuperBowl,’ a viewer cheered.
Eminem was praised for the move on Twitter (Picture: Getty)
Eminem was joined by Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar for the performance (Picture: Getty)
‘Eminem kneels after NFL asked him not to. Don’t tell a goat how to behave #SuperBowl,’ another agreed.
‘#SuperBowl NFL told #Eminem you can’t kneel he said f**k your rules I do what I want you can’t cancel me #HalfTimeShow #GOAT,’ a follower said.
‘Eminem did the kneel they said he couldn’t do. Let’s go! #HalfTimeShow #SuperBowl,’ one penned.
‘Eminem defies NFL and kneels in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick during Super Bowl halftime show. Good on you, @Eminem #SuperBowl #SuperBowlLVI #Eminem #ImWithKap,’ a Twitter user replied.
‘Eminem is the man. Great to see him take the knee after his performance. #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime,’ a fan added.
It was widely reported that NFL bosses had warned Eminem and his fellow performers not to make a stance during the show.
However, according to the New York Post, NFL reps said that this was untrue.
In recent years, taking a knee to protest against racism was popularised by NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who famously decided to kneel rather than stand for the national anthem before a game in 2016.
Absolutely no one could cope with the halftime show (Picture: Getty)
We were living for the whole performance (Picture: Getty)
‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,’ he said at the time.
‘To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way
‘There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.’
Other sports professionals began to follow suit, including the England team throughout the recent Euro 2020 tournament, and Lewis Hamilton ahead of F1 races.
Eminem joined a host of stars on stage at the SoFi stadium, with fans deeming it one of the best halftime shows of all time.
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Stars were just as impressed, with Lady Gaga among those cheering her fellow musicians on.
She tweeted: ‘THAT WAS A BOMB OF RADICAL LOVE THANK YOU #SuperBowl HALFTIME SHOW!!
‘Incredible!! That’s what it’s all about!!’
Kerry Washington was all of us, penning: ‘Mary J Blige. That’s it. That’s the tweet. Bowing down. #SuperBowlLVI.’
‘Officially lost myself. This halftime show is CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY.’
As Khloe Kardashian simply added: ‘That was a great halftime show! #HalfTimeShow.’
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