Eminem took the knee during the Super Bowl halftime show, despite the NFL reportedly forbidding it beforehand.
Taking the knee has been the subject of controversy ever since 2016, when Colin Kaepernick and his San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid chose to kneel during the playing of the US national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality across the country.
However, despite backlash from some corners, it's since been adopted by athletes all across the world. Eminem, despite reportedly being told he wasn't allowed to take the knee while performing, decided to do it anyway.
As part of this year's Super Bowl, Eminem performed alongside 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige. The show has already earned plaudits as the 'greatest of all time', but Eminem's actions have also been praised.
'NFL: Don’t take a knee, Eminem. Eminem: So you want me to definitely, 100%, absolutely take a knee? Got it,' one user wrote. 'Eminem taking a knee during the #SuperBowl halftime show after the @NFL told him he couldn't is classic Eminem,' a second tweeted.
'Eminem said before the game that he wanted to take a knee during the halftime show to honour Colin Kaepernick. The NFL said no. He did it anyway. Good for him,' a third tweeted. 'The NFL outright told Eminem he can’t do the knee during the show. Eminem proceeds to do the knee for one minute. The goat,' a fourth wrote. 'Eminem took the knee despite NFL told him not to. Legend behaviour,' a fifth tweeted.
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According to Puck, Eminem's intentions were nixed by the NFL, despite reps telling the New York Post there had been no discussions over the rapper taking the knee. The same report also noted that organisers allegedly 'flagged something that Snoop Dogg was set to wear as possibly appearing gang-related', and there were several aggravations regarding the planning in Dr. Dre's set.
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Topics: Eminem, Super Bowl
Cameron Frew