Photo by Caroline McCredie/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
Reportedly, a reliable source told US Weekly that Rihanna declined an offer to headline the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show in support of Colin Kaepernick.
“The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta,” the source reveals. “They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.”
Colin Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality. Thus, supporting the NFL may ultimately translate as an act that is not in solidarity with what Kaep is fighting for, which is the reason Rih turned down the offer if the rumor is true.
It is not hard to believe that such a big offer would be extended to Rihanna in the first place, as the singer has had a monumental music career even recently, despite her last full length project being released two years ago. This year, she received nominations at the BET Hip-Hop Awards and the American Music Awards.
As many know by now, the coveted Super Bowl halftime performance offer wound up going to Maroon 5. Multiple sources later told UsWeekly that Cardi B may be a special guest during Maroon 5’s set at the 2019 championship game at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.