The NFL is denying reports that it tried to prevent Eminem from taking a knee during the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, despite reports claiming the opposite.
Eminem, 49, performed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar during the much-anticipated show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
At the end of “Lose Yourself,” the rapper took a knee on stage, with his hand on his head while looking down, reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick began kneeling during the 2016 season to protest racism and police brutality. He has been effectively blackballed from the league ever since.
The league denied trying to stop Eminem from taking a knee. Instead, a spokesman said the league was “aware.”
“We watched all elements of the show during multiple rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem was going to do that,” said league spokesman Brian McCarthy to the Associated Press.
So far, Eminem has not commented on whether or not kneeling was a tribute to Kaepernick.
