Dr. Dre Addresses Eminem 'Taking A Knee' At Super Bowl

Dr. Dre has addressed Eminem's decision to take a knee during the Super Bowl half-time show.

The pair took to the pitch at Super Bowl LVI to dazzle thousands in the SoFi Stadium and millions more across the globe, with Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent all playing a part in the performance, which received rave reviews.

The hip-hop medley was chock-a-block with memorable moments, such as when Eminem took a knee after a rendition of his hit 'Lose Yourself'.

The gesture was championed by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and has become symbolic of the Black Lives Matter movement; however, it was reported that the NFL had asked Eminem - real name Marshall Mathers - not to do it.

Speaking to TMZ, Dre - real name Andre Young - said the NFL only asked them to make a few small changes.

The 56-year-old said: "There were a few things that we had to change but it was like really minor things.

"Em taking the knee, that was him doing that on his own and there was no problem with that."

He added that some of Lamar's material referencing Los Angeles gangs also had to be tweaked.

He said: "They had a problem with that so we had to take that out - no big deal, we get it.

"All in all, everybody came in, we were professional, everybody was on time and everybody really felt the magnitude of what this thing was and what we were going to be able to accomplish and it was a fantastic experience."

When Kaepernick first knelt during the national anthem in 2016 to protest against police brutality it sparked huge debate, with former president Donald Trump claiming that players who didn't stand during the national anthem 'shouldn't be in the country'.

But amid reports Eminem had defied the NFL in taking a knee, spokesperson Brian McCarthy insisted that was not the case.

He said: "We watched all elements of the show during multiple rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem was going to do that."

After the show, Dre said Blige joined him back at his house where they spent the night playing each other tunes in his studio.

The following day, he decided he deserved a treat.

He said: "Do you know what, my trainer's gonna be upset about this now.

"I went to McDonald's - there's something about those McDonald's French fries, I'm like, 'I deserve it today, I'm going to treat myself and go in and pig out today."'

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: US News, Music, Sport, Eminem

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey