Rihanna Explains Decision To Perform At Super Bowl Despite Boycotting In 2019: ‘Sends A Really Strong Message’

Rihanna She opened up about why she chose to perform during this performance Super Bowl LVII halftime show, despite declining the same opportunity for 2019.

The 34-year old singer At the time, she “just couldn’t be a sellout” By performing in the midst of controversy with ex-NFL quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick To protest the alleged injustice, I kneeled during the National Anthem. racial injustice In the United States. 

“I couldn’t be an enabler,” Rihanna October 2019 “There’s things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.”

But did the performer believe that’s all changed in 2023? 

While Rihanna said “there’s a lot of mending to be done,” She also believed it was. “powerful to break down those doors and have representation at such a high, high level.”

“Two Super Bowls back-to-back, you know, representing the urban community, globally. It is powerful. It sends a really strong message,” Rihanna spoke to British Vogue at a recent a href=”https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/rihanna-british-vogue-interview”>interview. This comment referred to last year’s Super Bowl halftime show, which included performances by Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. 

The “Umbrella” Singer said that her decision was also influenced by having her first child. 

“Raising a young black man is one of the scariest responsibilities in life. You’re like, ‘What am I leaving my kids to? This is the planet they’re gonna be living on?’ All of those things really start to hit differently,” She told the publication.

After boycotting the event publicly just a few year ago, Rihanna surprised her fans by agreeing that she would perform. After taking to the stage in a figure-hugging dress that showed off her baby bump, she stunned them all again. Rihanna was later confirmed by her representative.

The Barbados-born recording artist later said that her decision to perform was also influenced by her mother’s birth. “It’s this knowing that you can do anything,” She spoke to British Vogue.

“What the heck am I thinking? But you’re geeked on a challenge like that because you know what your body just did,” Rihanna continued. “You feel this sense of ‘Nothing is impossible.’” 

The singer spoke out about choosing projects she felt were worthy of her time since the birth of her son.

“When you make decisions of what you’re going to say yes to, it has to be worth it,” She spoke during a press conference for Apple Music, as The Daily Wire reported previously reported. “It’s important for me to do this this year. It’s important for representation. It’s important for my son to see that.”