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Eminem Didn't Disobey NFL When Taking A Knee In Colin Kaepernick's Honor During Super Bowl

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Los Angeles, CA – Eminem hit the Super Bowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show stage alongside Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige on Sunday night (February 13), the first time Hip Hop/R&B has been so heavily represented during The Big Game.

Right before Dr. Dre sat down to the white baby grand piano to rattle off a few notes from Tupac Shakur’s 1996 single “I Ain’t Mad At Cha,” Slim Shady took a knee, honoring Colin Kaepernick’s ongoing fight for racial equality. Rumors the National Football League prohibited Slim Shady from performing the politically-charged gesture proved to be false, at least according to The New York Post. 

Shortly after an article from The Puck claimed the NFL warned the performers not to take a knee, journalist Ryan Glasspiegel dispelled the notion, explaining NFL reps said players have been taking knees since 2016 without sanctions, so musical talent wouldn’t be held to a different standard.

Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer also confirmed no rules were broken per the NFL’s spokesperson Brian McCarthy. “Report was erroneous,” McCarthy told Breer. “We watched all elements of the show during numerous rehearsals this week.”

Eminem, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige delivered an entertaining set custom-tailored for the West Coast that included low riders, Crip-walking, 50 Cent and over 400 professional dancers and volunteer cast participants.

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The roughly 15-minute performance ended with “Still D.R.E.” and the controversial lyric, “still not loving police,” which The Puck suggested made the organizers “uncomfortable” as did Snoop Dogg’s blue rag sweatsuit that could possibly be perceived as “gang-related.” However, they reportedly decided not to censor either to avoid a “divisive cultural moment.”

Hip Hop fans were mostly united when it came to their opinions on Eminem’s gesture. Check out some of the reactions via Twitter below.