Super Bowl 2022 halftime show: The 5 biggest talking points after Eminem and Kendrick Lamar perform

Fans tuned in for one of the most anticipated Super Bowl halftime shows in years, with Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and Mary J Blige all headlining.

The 2022 Super Bowl took place tonight (13 February) at the SoFi Stadium in LA, with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s the first time that the Super Bowl – one of the biggest sporting events of the year in the US – will return to the Los Angeles area.

Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Blige, and Lamar joined a list of celebrated musicians who have played during Super Bowl halftime shows, including Beyoncé, Madonna, Coldplay, Katy Perry, U2, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Shakira.

Here are the biggest talking points from the halftime show:

A surprise performance from 50 Cent

As usual, surprise performances were kept under wraps until the very last moment. A slightly breathless-sounding 50 Cent was this year’s guest star, appearing after Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg opened the show with “Still Dre” and “California Love”. Fiddy performed “In Da Club” while surrounded by beautiful dancers, which perhaps explains why he looked rather distracted for most of it.

Eminem kneels after “Lose Yourself”

The “Lose Yourself” rapper defied rumoured instructions from the NFL to keep politics out of the halftime show, kneeling at the end of his performance of “Lose Yourself” for one minute. Eminem had apparently mentioned the idea of kneeling ahead of his performance, but had been asked to avoid doing so by Super Bowl organisers. The form of protest by kneeling was brought to the NFL by Colin Kaepernick, who first began sitting silently on benches during the national anthem, at the start of the 2016 season on 26 August.

While many praised Eminem for doing so, others pointed out how Kaepernick, a Black man, continues to be blacklisted for his protests against racial injustice, while Eminem, who is white, was able to take the knee today (14 February) on that same platform.

Anderson .Paak on drums

A beaming Anderson .Paak could be seen on drums during Eminem’s performance of “Lose Yourself”, with Dr Dre also performing.

Kendrick Lamar works in his own political statement

Ahead of the Super Bowl, widespread reports emerged that headliners Dr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Mary J Blige and Snoop Dogg were being heavily censored from making any political statements.

According to the New York Post, Dre felt “disgustingly censored” by executives who didn’t want the performance to become a “divisive culture war moment”.

However, Lamar chose to perform “Alright” for his segment, which felt significant given the rumoured requests to keep politics out of the halftime show. “Alright” became an anthem against police brutality and racial injustice in 2015, after activists in Cleveland State University were filmed chanting it. The song originally appeared on Lamar’s universally acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly.

Kanye West makes an appearance

Kanye West was spotted with his daughter North watching the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in the climax of the 2021 NFL season at So-Fi Stadium.

The controversial rapper and producer was filmed wearing a black mask covering his face while sitting with North and wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The trio were shown on the jumbotron, with North appearing to be caught off-guard as she realised she was on the giant screen.

Read more

• Super Bowl 2022 halftime review: Dr Dre oversees performance from hip-hop royalty

• Kanye West spotted at Super Bowl with daughter North

• Super Bowl viewers praise Mickey Guyton’s ‘incredible’ national anthem performance

• Eminem kneels during Super Bowl halftime show performance

The liveblog is now closed

Super Bowl halftime show key points

• Mickey Guyton performs the US national anthem in historic moment

• Dr Dre says Super Bowl 2022 halftime show will open doors for hip hop

• Eminem defies NFL by kneeling during halftime show

• Kanye West spotted watching Super Bowl with daughter North

Mickey Guyton performs the US national anthem in historic moment

Sunday 13 February 2022 23:24 , Roisin O'Connor

A spectacular rendition of the US national anthem from country music singer Mickey Guyton just now.

Guyton has broken down a number of barriers in her industry over the past year, including sporting an Afro during her empowering performance of “Love My Hair” at the CMAs.

“It’s Black History Month, and a Black country singer gets to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Wow,” she told the New York Post this week.

“This is a huge moment for me. It’s a huge moment for black people. And I want to represent that in the best possible way that I can.”

“I set my intentions with singing the national anthem. I was like, ‘OK, togetherness is what I really want,’” she continued. “So, I felt the way that people would feel togetherness is if I had a choir, with people that I believe represent America. And, you know, I have everybody from my black queen to a redneck cowboy to a girl that has one leg in this choir. And that’s the America that I’m proud of — us all standing together. We all belong.”

Super Bowl 2022: Every trailer to expect during the game

Sunday 13 February 2022 23:37 , Roisin O'Connor

With Super Bowl 2022 comes a new batch of fresh trailers to watch.

The sporting event takes place on Sunday night (13 February) and, while many will tune in to see the Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals, others will be excited to get a glimpse at forthcoming movies and TV shows.

Considering how many people watch the Super Bowl around the world, studios view the event as the perfect time to promote their new titles – and 2022 is no different.

Titles expected to release new footage during the Super Bowl includes Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings TV show, Marvel sequel Doctor Strange 2 and Dwayne Johnson’s DC film Black Adam.

My colleague Jacob Stolworthy will be keeping track of all of them in one handy article, which you can read here:

Every movie and TV trailer to expect during Super Bowl 2022

Eminem admits headlining Super Bowl halftime show is ‘f***ing nerve-wracking'

00:14 , Roisin O'Connor

Eminem has admitted his fears of messing up at the Super Bowl and being remembered for it “forever”.

The “Lose Yourself” rapper will perform during Sunday (13 February) night’s halftime show alongside Dr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg.

Appearing on SiriusXM show Sway in the Morningon Friday (11 February), Eminem said that he was incredibly nervous about the performance.

“​​I’mma tell you, it’s f***ing nerve-wracking,” the rapper said, repeating: “It’s f***ing nerve-wracking.”

He continued: “To me, it’s like… there’s nothing more final than live TV. So, if you f*** up, your f*** up is there forever.”

Read more:

Eminem says performing at Super Bowl half-time show is ‘f***ing nerve-wracking’

Nope trailer: Jordan Peele fans think title is acronym that gives away movie’s plot

00:17 , Roisin O'Connor

Jordan Peele has dropped the first trailer for his new horror film – and his fans think they’ve worked our a crucial clue.

Peele, director fo Get Out and Us, will unveil his next movie in July. However, after watching the trailer, it’s still unclear exactly what it’s about.

Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya star in the film as ranchers whose lives are turned upside down with the arrival of what looks like a giant UFO.

This has led those who have watched the trailer to theorise that the film’s title hints at the film’s plot, and that “Nope” could actually be an acronym standing for: “Not Of Planet Earth.”

After spotting this online, one viewer wrote: “This makes so much sense now.”

Read more:

Jordan Peele fans think his new horror move title is acronym that gives away the plot

Dr Dre says Super Bowl 2022 halftime show will open doors for hip hop

00:24 , Roisin O'Connor

Mary J Blige, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg said the NFL was late embracing hip hop, and vowed that their Super Bowl halftime show would create more opportunities for the genre.

“We’re going to open more doors for hip-hop artists in the future and making sure that the NFL understands that this is what it should have been long time ago,” Dre said at a press appearance.

“It’s crazy that it took all of this time for us to be recognized. I think we’re going to do a fantastic job. We’re going to do it so big that they can’t deny us anymore in the future.”

Reporters were not permitted to ask questions, unlike previous years.

Reporting by Associated Press

Super Bowl 2022 halftime show lineup decisions are questionable post-#MeToo

00:34 , Roisin O'Connor

While hip-hop fans are understandably excited about this year’s lineup, others have expressed disappointment in certain headliners’ questionable histories.

In 1991 ,the music mogul confronted TV host Dee Barnes about her coverage of NWA at an LA nightclub – in a $22.7m (£16.7m) lawsuit, she accused him of punching her and slamming her face and body repeatedly into a wall.

Dre – real name Andre Romelle Young – pleaded no contest to assault and battery and was fined and sentenced to community service and probation.

The previous year, Dre’s label made Tairrie B accused him of punching her twice at the Grammys for releasing a song that included derogatory lyrics about Dre and NWA.

In a 2016 book, the mother of three of Dre’s children, Lisa Johnson, claimed he hit her in the mouth and lip.

In a statement to the New York Times in 2015, Dre spoke publicly for the first times about the allegations against him.

“I apologise to the women I’ve hurt,” he said. “I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.”

“Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again.”

Dre finalised his $100m divorce from Nicole Young, his wife of 24 years, in December last year. In court documents, she accused Dre of holding a gun to her head, punching her in the face, and lifting her off her feet by her neck.

Dre has refuted Young’s claims.

Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg is being sued for alleged sexual assault by a woman who claims the rapper forced her to perform oral sex in 2013.

On Wednesday (9 February), a lawsuit was filed against the rapper in federal court by an anonymous woman using the name Jane Doe.

The accuser, who allegedly worked as a model and danced on stage with Snoop, claims she was sexually assaulted by the rapper and his associate Don “Magic” Juan nearly nine years ago on 29 May 2013.

Snoop denied the entire story to TMZ, calling it a “pack of lies”. He also claimed that the suit was being filed ahead of his performance at Sunday’s (12 February) Super Bowl half-time show.

On Instagram, he posted a screenshot reading: “Gold digger season is here be careful Nefews keep ya guards up. And Keep ya circle small [sic].”

Mickey Guyton performs 'incredible' national anthem for Super Bowl viewers

00:39 , Roisin O'Connor

The 10 best Super Bowl halftime shows

00:39 , Roisin O'Connor

Super Bowl fans are gearing up to watch some of hip-hop’s biggest names headline the 2022 halftime show.

The 56th edition of the Super Bowl will take place on Sunday 13 February at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

In the UK, viewers will be able to watch live on BBC Two and iPlayer, as well as Sky Sports.

Asides from the game itself, the biggest talking point of the Super Bowl is the halftime show, where some of the world’s most famous artists – from Bruce Springsteen to Katy Perry – have entertained fans at the stadium.

See our pick of the best-ever Super Bowl halftime shows here

The 10 greatest Super Bowl halftime shows

Marvel Studios releases new trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

00:41 , Roisin O'Connor

00:46 , Roisin O'Connor

Snoop Dogg has said he doesn’t plan on getting nervous until after he’s performed at the Super Bowl halftime show.

The “Gin and Juice” rapper is headlining the event in Los Angeles on Sunday 13 February alongside Kendrick Lamar, Dr Dre, Mary J Blige and Eminem.

“For me, when performing, I never let the moment get bigger than me,” he told the Associated Press.

“I’m not going to understand it until it happens,” he explained. “While it’s happening, I’m in the zone. I’m stuck to the script, laser focused, being on point, sounding good, looking good and feeling good. I want to give off a great presentation.

“After the fact, it’s when I’ll be nervous about watching it to see what the reaction is. But while I’m going through it, it’s nothing.”

Read more:

Snoop Dogg calls Super Bowl halftime show 'dream come true'

How to watch the Super Bowl halftime show

00:46 , Roisin O'Connor

For those of you tuning in from home, here’s a reminder of how to watch the halftime show and all the key times

What time does the Super Bowl halftime show start?

Simpsons episode goes viral for ‘predicting’ Super Bowl 2022 winner

00:48 , Roisin O'Connor

A series of The Simpsons stills shared online convinced people that the animated series once predicted a win for the Super Bowl underdogs.

The stills are taken from the eighth episode of season 16, which is titled “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass”. Originally broadcast in February 2005, the Super Bowl-themed episode arrived after the New England Patriots won for the third time.

The episode sees Homer become a viral sensation thanks to a victory dance filmed by Ned Flanders, which is then put on the internet by Comic Book Guy.

Read more here.

Simpsons episode goes viral for ‘predicting’ Super Bowl 2022 winner

How to watch the Super Bowl halftime show

01:05 , Roisin O'Connor

For those of you tuning in from home, here’s a reminder of how to watch the halftime show and all the key times

What time does the Super Bowl halftime show start?

01:10 , Roisin O'Connor

Here we go!!!

01:13 , Roisin O'Connor

Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg open the Super Bowl 2022 halftime show with some West Coast classics, including “Still Dre” and “California Love”.

It’s hard to pick up on the vibe from home, but both artists look like they’re having a great time. It’s a real party happening down there, complete with dancers and... 50 Cent! A surprise appearance to perform a medley of his biggest hits, including “In Da Club”.

01:16 , Roisin O'Connor

Mary J Blige opening her segment with a rendition of her classic, “Family Affair”, dressed in a dazzling mirrored costume. Looking and sounding absolutely fantastic.

01:19 , Roisin O'Connor

Amid reports that this year’s Super Bowl halftime show was heavily censored by the NFL, Kendrick Lamar makes a huge opening statement by performing “Alright”, which became a protest anthem during the Black Lives Matter protests.

01:20 , Roisin O'Connor

Now to Eminem, with “Lose Yourself”, and Anderson .Paak on the drums!

01:25 , Roisin O'Connor

Just in:

Eminem kneels during Super Bowl halftime show performance

01:41 , Roisin O'Connor

In a display of defiance against the NFL, Eminem knelt during his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show.

The rapper took the knee at the end of a rendition of “Lose Yourself”, which also included Dr Dre, and Anderson .Paak on drums.

The move came amid widespread reports that he and fellow headliners Dr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige and Snoop Dogg were being heavily censored from making any political statements.

According to the New York Post,Dre felt “disgustingly censored” by executives who didn’t want the performance to become a “divisive culture war moment”.

The NFL also reportedly expressed its discomfort over lyrics in “Still Dre” about “still not loving police”.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power trailer stuns Super Bowl 2022 viewers

02:01 , Roisin O'Connor

More film content for you all, as my colleague Jacob Stolworthy is ALL over the new Lord of the Rings series trailer:

Later this year, the streaming service will release The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is reportedly the most expensive TV show of all time.

While a teaser was previously released, revealing its title, the new trailer unveiled the first full look at the forthcoming return to JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth since Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy.

The new show will run for eight episodes when it arrives this September. After it was reported that the trailer would be released during the Super Bowl, fans made no secret of the fact that this was the only reason they were tuning in on social media.

More below:

The first Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power trailer stuns viewers

02:06 , Roisin O'Connor

Kanye West was spotted with his daughter North watching the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in the climax of the 2021 NFL season at So-Fi Stadium.

The controversial rapper and producer was filmed wearing a black mask covering his face while sitting with North and wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The trio were shown on the jumbotron, with North appearing to be caught off-guard as she realised she was on the giant screen.

West’s presence at the game comes just hours after he went on his latest Instagram rampage against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and her boyfriend, SNL star Pete Davidson.

The “Famous” artist, who legally changed his name to Ye last year, was also embroiled in a row with pop star Billie Eilish this week, after he accused her of insulting fellow rapper Travis Scott.

More here:

Kanye West spotted at Super Bowl 2022 with daughter North

02:10 , Roisin O'Connor

Speaking of Kanye. I wrote this comment piece earlier in the week – before he’d posted a lot of his more outrageous comments about Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian. But I think it’s still relevant, so here you go:

Kanye West’s juvenile behaviour is sabotaging his artistic legacy

02:37 , Roisin O'Connor

Review incoming from my colleague Kevin in the next 10 minutes or so!

Super Bowl 2022 halftime review: Dr Dre oversees performance from hip-hop royalty

02:51 , Roisin O'Connor

Surprise guests 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak joined previously announced rap icons Eminem and Snoop Dogg and soul queen Mary J Blige.

Read Kevin E G Perry’s review of the Super Bowl halftime show here:

Dr Dre oversees hip-hop royalty for the Super Bowl halftime show – review

03:06 , Roisin O'Connor

Right, I’m about to head to bed so it’s goodnight from me – thanks so much to everyone who followed our coverage this evening!