Super Bowl LVI: Eminem ‘defies NFL orders’ and kneels during half-time show as Los Angeles Rams beat Cincinnati Bengals in dramatic finale
- The US rapper performs the gesture in what many believe is in support of Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback who first took a knee to protest racial injustice
- With the favoured Rams trailing 20-16 in the final minutes, Cooper Kupp takes a catch on the edge of the end zone for the winning touchdown
While the Los Angeles Rams did what they were supposed to do and win Super Bowl LVI, rap star Eminem did what he was reportedly told not to do. He took a knee.
The Rams earned a dramatic victory with Cooper Kupp taking a one-yard catch from quarterback Matthew Stafford with less than 90 seconds left to give the franchise a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on home ground.
For fans, the memory of MVP Kupp’s catch on the corner is likely to be as indelible as the half-time show when veteran rapper Eminem knelt while performing Lose Yourself and put his head on his hand. Many interpreted it as a tribute to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose career was effectively ended in 2016 after he knelt during the American national anthem to protest racial injustice.
The Super Bowl half-time show is one of the biggest entertainment gigs in US pop culture and this year’s event was heavily hip hop flavoured with Eminem performing alongside Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg.
Reports say Eminem was told by NFL chief Roger Goodell not to take a knee during the half-time show.
