Eminem kneels during Super Bowl LVI halftime show despite reports NFL told him that he couldn’t

Eminem made his name in the early 2000s as a rapper who was not afraid to throw up a middle finger to the man and push every boundary put in front of him.

He is apparently still at it because at the end of his “Lose Yourself,” set during Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI halftime show the Detroit rapper took a knee on stage.

And that is something the NFL reportedly told him specifically that he could not do heading into the night.

But he’s “Slim Shady,” so everyone knew what was about to happen, right?

Eminem was trending on social media as the game began when reports indicated that his request that he be able to take a knee in support of protests against social injustices and racial inequality was rebuffed by the league.

According to the reports, the league made sure that Slim Shady along with fellow performers Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar “wouldn’t do anything too controversial.”

Dr. Dre, left, and Snoop Dogg perform during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)AP

The NFL also, reportedly, went rounds with Dr. Dre regarding lyrics to some of his songs, specifically the line in his “Still D.R.E.” that reads “Still f— with the beats, still not loving police.” And, despite Dre reportedly paying most of the $7 million in expenses to put the show on, the league reportedly wasn’t willing to budge much there.

But, if the reports were true, the NFL probably isn’t too happy with Eminem. And, Eminem probably doesn’t care much, although, it will probably make for good material on the next album.

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