Dr. Dre Talks About Controversial Eminem 'Kneel' at NFL Super Bowl, Says 'There Was No Problem With That’
Dr. Dre said there was no problem with Eminem taking a knee during Sunday's NFL Super Bowl halftime show.
The rapper and record producer, who performed along with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, told TMZ on Monday that Marshall decided to do it on his own, and the NFL had no issue about it.
As the final words of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" rang out, he was seen taking a knee that appeared to resemble the gesture of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who led kneeling protests in 2016 during the national anthem to bring attention to police brutality and racial injustice.
With one hand over his head, Eminem holds the pose for several moments.
"Em taking a knee that was Em doing that on his own... And there was no problem with that," Dr. Dre said of his protegee as reported by CNN.
Did Eminem Intentionally Replicate Colin Kaepernick Gesture?
In a 2016 preseason game, Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, took a knee as an act of protest against police brutality and racism.
It received severe criticism, as well as widespread support. Athletes worldwide and from multiple fields have taken a knee in solidarity in the years since.
It's unclear whether Eminem copied the move on purpose. If Eminem decided to take a knee in protest, it will not be the first time he has shown his support for Kaepernick and his cause.
At the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards, Eminem startled audiences with a more than four-minute freestyle rap in which he slammed former President Donald Trump, who was heavily critical of Kaepernick while appearing to support the former NFL star's cause.
Following the awards event, Kaepernick tweeted, "I appreciate you @Eminem," implying that he was aware of the nod.
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NFL 'Aware' That Eminem Would Kneel
In a statement on Sunday, the NFL said they knew that the rapper was going to kneel, and they had no issue with it, Los Angeles Times.
The NFL said they had watched all elements of the show during the rehearsals, and they were aware that Eminem was planning to do the gesture.
The statement continued that either a player or a coach could have taken a knee, and there would have been no consequences.
According to Dr. Dre, the NFL made minor adjustments, including omitting a gang reference from one of Lamar's songs, which the rapper claimed was "no big deal."
Dr. Dre described the show as a "fantastic experience," as everybody was professional, on time, and "everyone really felt the magnitude."
Dr. Dre also told TMZ that they were all feeling the love from the 70,000 fans inside SoFi Stadium, not to mention the millions watching from across the world. It marked the first time hip-hop artists were featured as headliners on the NFL's biggest night.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Jess Smith
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