Eminem in the Super Bowl: the controversial gesture that became the center of a controversy

The halftime show at the Super Bowl It is the most anticipated moment by viewers and the one with the highest television rating in the world.. After the first appearance of Michael Jackson, famous artists such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Shakira, among others, were in charge of entertainment.

this year was the turn of a heartfelt tribute to American rap that had Eminem as the protagonist of a performance that unleashed a strong controversy.

After the opening of Snoop Dogg and performances by Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick LammarIt was the rapper’s turn. As he displayed an imposing Show in the interpretation of his hit, “Lose yourself”, Eminem knelt in the middle of the stage in a clear position of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

This initiative gained great relevance in the world of sport since, in 2016, Colin Kaepernick knelt during the American anthem in a game of the (National Football League) NFL. After that controversial first step, many elite athletes like Lebron James and other basketball players in the NBA or Lewis Hamilton and the great impulse that Formula 1 gaveThey joined the movement.

Within the framework of a strong fight against violence and racism in the United States and in the world, Eminem saw his performance in one of the sporting events with the greatest impact in the world as timely and joined Black Lives Matter. When he finished his performance, the rapper from St. Joseph, Missouri (United States), He put his left knee on the floor, lowered his head and took it with his right hand.

His action did not go unnoticed.. Immediately, around the 120 million viewers who were following the Super Bowl 2022, they echoed it and it was a trend on social networks. At that moment, it began to transcend that, days before the show, the artist had expressed his intention to kneel in honor of Colin Kaepernick. Upon finding out, the NFL organization banned him.

Whether with or without the entity’s permission, Eminem He reaffirmed his position and with that gesture he claimed the fight against racism.

For several years, the NBA and Formula 1 have waged determined campaigns to combat racism and convey the message of equality to the millions of fans who follow them. Nevertheless, The NFL punished Colin Kaepernick a few years ago when, in 2016, he knelt while the US national anthem was playing in protest.

“I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag, for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. For me, this is bigger than football.”, expressed the American football player at the time. From that moment, the gesture became a powerful political act of vindication of the country’s social movements. Even, It took on even greater force after the murder of George Floyd.

Its importance was impressive to the point that the North American presidents expressed themselves in this regard. Barack Obama defended the gesture and urged that celebrities who endorse the movement, accompany Kaepernick in his fight. On the flip side, Donald Trumpexpressed in 2017: “I thought it was terrible, and then it got bigger and bigger and started multiplying, and frankly, the NFL should have suspended him for one game; With that, I never would have done it again.”

In line with Trump’s thinking, Colin Kaepernick’s career was seriously affected by the league’s decision. Since January 2017, he has been separated from the San Francisco 49ers and he never set foot on a playing field again. To this day, the player has not managed to return to the elite of the sport and more and more referents support his position and fight to end Kaepernick’s unjustified ban.

In the midst of the controversial international dispute and despite the warning that the NFL would have given him, Eminem made his position clear and decided make the gesture that history claims. For this, like every rap song that carries a strong story in its lyrics against racism, the musician knelt in one of the most massive events in sport and issued a strong message to the whole world.