Rihanna reportedly turned down the Super Bowl halftime show to support Colin Kaepernick
Rihanna stands in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, thank you very much. So much so that the “Love on the Brain” singer reportedly turned down an offer to headline one of the biggest stages: the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show. But, let’s face it—it’s RiRi we’re talking about here. The Super Bowl is but a minuscule feat for someone of her pop royalty status.
According to Us Weekly, the NFL and CBS were totally set on Rih headlining the halftime show in Atlanta next year. But…
“The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta. They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.
We stan a woke queen.
Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, made national headlines in August 2016 when he refused to stand for the national anthem during an NFL game. His actions sparked the #TakeAKnee movement, which seeks to combat racial inequality and police brutality. The movement ignited a dialogue about race relations in sports media and beyond; President Trump even spoke out to lambast the movement, because of course.
In September, Nike unveiled a powerful ad campaign with Kaepernick as the face alongside the slogan: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
Last month, news broke that Maroon 5 would headline the halftime show in Atlanta; sources told Us Weekly that rapper Cardi B could possibly make a guest appearance (the artists collaborated on the song “Girls Like You“). The Super Bowl—and the halftime show—will air on February 3rd, 2019 on CBS.
