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
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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.
“For the record, I think I know why Eminem was kneeling, but if it’s related to Colin Kaepernick, he should say that. Not a criticism. But would be a powerful addition to the conversation,” Atlantic contributing writer Jemele Hill, who has 1.4 million followers on Twitter, wrote.
Not everyone was enamoured by Eminem’s gesture, though, with conservative author Brigitte Gabriel writing: “Eminem turned off MILLIONS of Americans who love their country and flag for the NFL tonight.”
Fox News later reported the NFL was aware Eminem would kneel during the show. Justice and liberation group Resist Programming wrote: “The NFL’s cameras cut away as Eminem knelt during the Super Bowl Halftime Show. They told him not to, but he did it anyway.”
Kaepernick divided American society when he first started taking a knee. Initially, he was considered unpatriotic. However, the gesture has since been adopted globally as a statement against racism with players in football’s English Premier League kneeling before the start of each match.
The 34-year-old Kaepernick, the same age as Rams’ victorious quarterback Stafford, has been snubbed by teams since and is unlikely to play again. One Twitter user wrote about Eminem: “NFL can’t ruin his career for taking a knee.”
On the field, the favoured Rams celebrated their dramatic victory, which secured a second franchise title and first in Los Angeles since they moved from St Louis six years ago.
“I’m just so happy, I wanted this so bad, I feel amazing,” Rams’ stellar defensive tackle Aaron Donald said immediately after the game, according to BBC.
“It was one last play to be world champs, and we made a play and won so that’s all that matters. This is the best feeling in the world, I don’t know what to say.”
Kupp scored two touchdowns and Donald spearheaded a fearsome defensive display. Kupp scored a decisive touchdown with 85 seconds remaining to give the Rams the lead at SoFi Stadium before Donald grabbed the Rams’ record-breaking eighth sack of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to seal a blockbuster victory.
Donald’s sack of Burrow was the dramatic final act of a gripping contest between the star-studded Rams and the Bengals, whose bid to win a first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy fell agonisingly short.
Wide receiver Kupp was named Super Bowl MVP three years after missing the Rams last appearance in a Super Bowl through injury. “It is unbelievable,” Kupp said. “To be able to experience this with my family. It has been such a fun ride. Up and down but fun.”
Stafford, meanwhile, paid tribute to his team’s never-say-die approach. “I’m so proud of this team,” Stafford said. “There are so many guys on our team that deserve this, so many guys who gave their heart and soul to this team.
“That game today is the story of our season. It’s up and down, it’s tough. We’re a tough team. We showed up late and got it done.”
The Bengals had stormed into a 20-13 lead early in the second half after a controversial Tee Higgins touchdown and an Evan McPherson field goal. Higgins raced for a 75-yard score but replays showed he grabbed Rams’ safety Jalen Ramsey’s face mask before breaking clear – an infringement that should have led to a penalty.
But the Rams, who had struggled to build momentum on offence after a game-ending injury to Odell Beckham Jnr, clawed their way back thanks to their rampant defence led by Donald. Burrow was sacked repeatedly at key moments to prevent the Bengals from extending their lead.
