Was NFL aware of Eminem’s plans to kneel at Super Bowl half-time show?

The Super Bowl LVI halftime show was one of the most talked about performances from the big game in recent history. The next day, many raved about Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and others, who had all generations of NFL fans dancing in their living rooms.

After performing his hit song Lose Yourself from his movie 8 Mile, Eminem took a knee on stage, as an ode to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the social justice movement. However, did NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league know that the iconic rapper was planning on kneeling on stage?

According to the LA Times, yes, the National Football League was made aware of Eminem's plans before Super Bowl LVI kicked off.

“We watched all elements of the show during multiple rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem is going to do that. A player or coach could have taken a knee and there would have been no repercussions, so there was no reason to tell an artist she or he could not do so.”-Brian McCarthy, NFL spokesperson

How much money do Super Bowl halftime performers get paid?

Being selected to perform in the Super Bowl halftime show is one of the biggest 'gigs' a musical performer can get. Last year's Super Bowl had over 112 million viewers, which included cable and streaming. So, it's an excellent platform for performers to reach an audience of various demographics.

So, how much does a performer make by performing in the big game's halftime show? The answer is, actually nothing! There is no financial compensation for an artist.

The entire performance is paid for but the artist won't receive any pay. So, why would they choose to perform? Because of the benefits and exposure that the performance brings.

If the artist has a new album or single about to be released, it helps bring exposure that social media or even television interviews wouldn't be able to bring. And perhaps it also helps gain fans that they wouldn't have been able to reach otherwise.

Performing at this grand stage is among the biggest honors that a music personality can have. No wonder then that money isn't a consideration for them.