Music News

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 14: Rihanna attends AFI FEST 2019 Presented By Audi – "Queen & Slim" Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California.

On Sunday (Sept. 25), Rihanna announced that she would be the Super Bowl 2023 LVII Show performer. However, many on Twitter began to come for the singer and beauty mogul for backtracking on her previous Super Bowl comments.

In 2019, the “We Found Love” singer reportedly turned down the Super Bowl to show solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick who began kneeling during the National Anthem in 2016 to protest injustice, police brutality and systemic oppression. Later in 2019, Rihanna spoke to Vogue about refusing to perform. “I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler. There’s things within that organization that I don’t agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of any service to them [the NFL] in any way.”

One person wrote, “You literally said you wouldn’t do it 2 years ago…….. did injustice change in 2 years? Hypocrite.”

“I’m sure Rihanna, Jay-Z, whoever else black does/will do the SB is aware y’all are going to call them a hypocrite,” another fan

I’m sure Rihanna, Jay-Z, whoever else black does/will do the SB is aware y’all are going to call them a hypocrite. They don’t care. No one is standing behind Kaepernick and his weird half-ass boycott anymore. Him actively trying to return to that league cancelled all that out.

— Viirtuoso Tears 🐊 (@virtuosointel) September 25, 2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote defending RiRi. “They don’t care. No one is standing behind Kaepernick and his weird half-a– boycott anymore. Him actively trying to return to that league canceled all that out.”

And this statement of Rihanna was made in 2019. It wasn't thatlong ago.... and Jayz was already working with the NFL when she shaded the fuck out of a lot people with her statement.... it's fine to like Rihanna and still say she look like a hypocrite...

— 👑 Mr. Weeks 👑 (@WonderKing82) September 27, 2022?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Another fan pointed out her previous 2019 comment: “And this statement of Rihanna was made in 2019. It wasn’t that long ago…. and Jay-Z was already working with the NFL when she shaded the f— out of a lot people with her statement…. it’s fine to like Rihanna and still say she look like a hypocrite…”

In Rihanna’s announcement on Sunday, the singer took to all of her social media accounts and posted her hand holding an NFL-branded football against a white backdrop. The superstar captioned the photo with a simple period, “.”

Although Rihanna got some haters for taking the Super Bowl gig, a lot of fans are still excited to watch her perform. Since the popstar has not produced an album in over six years, fans were quick to make memes once learning that she would be the Super Bowl Halftime performer. Take a look at fan reactions below:

Sign me up for the Kiss 95.1 email newsletter!

Make sure you're not missing out on anything at Kiss 95.1 and become an exclusive VIP member. Enjoy all the perks and get exclusive insight into music news, contests, and more!

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.