NFL Officials Play Dumb After Rap Star’s Controversial Half Time Finale

The NFL announced that they were fully “aware” that rapper Eminem was going to kneel during the Super Bowl LVI halftime performance after a publication had reported they were not.

“That report was erroneous,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement about a report that claimed Eminem was told he couldn’t kneel during the halftime show.

“We watched all elements of the show during multiple rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem was going to do that,” he added.

Eminem along with Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar performed at the much-anticipated show.

Eminem took the stage where he performed a couple of his hits, then the rapper took a knee turn while performing “Lose Yourself.”

The superstar stayed down on one knee for a moment while Dre sat at the piano and played Tupac’s “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.”

The organization’s denial comes after The Puck had reported that the NFL was against Eminem kneeling during the halftime performance.

Kneeling became controversial in the NFL after former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began using it as a form of protest against police brutality and racial injustice. Eminem appeared to be paying tribute to Kaepernick’s protects.

The quarterback eventually opted out of his contract with the 49ers but never joined another NFL team because he was blacklisted by owners who opposed his anthem protests. Ultimately Kaepernick sued the NFL and received an undisclosed settlement.