The Detroit Lions hired Eminem and Paul Rosenberg to consult on the team’s Thanksgiving halftime shows through 2027. The decision excited many fans. However, conservative sports commentator Jason Whitlock had a very different reaction. He went after the Lions instantly and loudly.
Whitlock saw the announcement and jumped straight to Twitter. As usual, he did not hold back. For years, he has attacked hip hop artists. He once called Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg “lyrical pornographers” and claimed they were unfit for the Super Bowl stage.
And yet, the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show won an Emmy and became the most-watched performance on the NFL’s official YouTube channel.
So when the Lions picked Eminem as a cultural advisor, Whitlock treated it like a personal invitation to rant.
He tweeted: “Lyrical p*rnogrp*hers are the leading consultants for halftime entertainment. Hugh Hefner died too soon. He would probably be commissioner of the NFL today”.
Lyrical pornographers are the leading consultants for halftime entertainment. Hugh Hefner died too soon. He would probably be commissioner of the NFL today. https://t.co/OjGuxPsaaL
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) November 13, 2025
Clearly, Whitlock believes the NFL is morally collapsing. And he thinks Eminem is the perfect symbol of that slide.
But Lions fans see something completely different. Eminem has supported Detroit sports for decades. He attends games. He shouts out the teams. He represents the city everywhere he goes. So, the Lions asked him to help shape their halftime shows, bring in top-tier performers, and create a real Detroit atmosphere.
Fans Clash Over the Controversy
When Whitlock pressed “tweet”, social media exploded. Soon, his replies filled with dramatic and often unhinged comments.
One user wrote: “As a somewhat civilized society, we should erase Eminem from our memory banks”. Another asked:“Are they this desperate to attract fans?” A third insisted: “Eminem has said vile things about white people”. And someone else took it into conspiracy territory: “I don’t know when you convinced yourself that the NFL wasn’t controlled by Marxist globalists”.
Yet, some fans defended the rapper. They highlighted his charity work in Detroit, pointed out his loyalty to the Lions and to the city. Also, they reminded people that he put Detroit culture on the world map long before it was trendy.
Through it all, Whitlock kept up his dramatic tone. He even censored the word “pornographer”, showing again that his performative puritanism is louder than his logic.
Detroit Isn’t Changing Its Mind
In the end, the Lions will not respond to Whitlock. They don’t need to. Eminem is one of Detroit’s biggest cultural icons. He is one of the franchise’s most loyal supporters. And now, he gets to help make their Thanksgiving shows louder, better, and more Detroit than ever.
So, while Whitlock fumes online, Ford Field will be rocking, powered by Slim Shady’s vision and Motor City pride.
