The Super Bowl LVI halftime show, starring Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar, was a historic affair that put Hip Hop on its largest stage yet.
But, while praise continues to ring in from many for the star-studded showing, others have launched formal complaints and petitions against the performance in the days since.
In addition to grievances filed to the FCC against the NFL, a petition from the American Family Association has garnered over 16,000 signatures from viewers who claim the halftime show was ‘vulgar’ and ‘not family friendly.’
Among those in the detraction chorus is former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who took to press to specifically slam Eminem and Snoop Dogg for their contributions to the show. Look inside to hear what he said and see how Em responded.
Earlier this week, Giuliani was spotted on ’77 WABC’ conducting an interview that saw him specifically weigh in on Snoop Dogg’s history of controversial lyrics and Em’s decision to ‘take a knee’ at Sunday’s Super Bowl (February 13).
“Taking a knee,” a posture popularized by footballer Colin Kaepernick in protest of racial discrimination in the league, caused a stir with many – particularly Rudy who suggested there was no place for such activity at the sporting event.
“Let’s get right to Eminem taking a knee,” said the disgraced politician. “Why doesn’t he go to another country? Go take a knee someplace else.”
That’s not all he said about Slim Shady (born Marshall Mathers).
“You know how many cops were defending him and protecting him at that game yesterday? I mean, crime is way out of control in Los Angeles. He thinks that all happened because everybody loves Eminem?” Giuliani continued. “The simple reality is that the NFL has made a mockery out of law enforcement, particularly with its support for the cop-killing Black Lives Matter.”
After slamming Em, Rudy took aim at Snoop Dogg.
“It’s allowing Snoop ‘Kill Police’ Doggy Dogg to perform, in spite of the fact that just a few days ago, he put out a song, if that’s what he does,” Giuliani said. “I don’t know what he does. To me, it’s kind of like [low mumbling/growling noise]. Here’s a good thing. He used the N-word and, I don’t even understand it. You know? Doesn’t have a big effect on me. The only way I knew the lyrics of the song kept using the N-word and encouraging people to kill police officers is because someone gave me the lyrics. I would not have been able to understand what he said. But, having said those words, he didn’t belong on that stage.”
He concluded his rant by suggesting the actions of Em and Snoop could incite the endangerment of law enforcement.
“What kind of country are we becoming? What kind of country do our elites want us to be when people are encouraging cop killing,”Rudy stated.
*****
While Mathers may be too busy to respond to the hoopla, ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ took the honors by delivering a spoof response on his behalf.
Watch it below.