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Rihanna is causing controversy this week after revealing her reason for turning down one of the biggest possible moments in a performer’s career – a chance to perform at the halftime show for the Superbowl 53.
Instead of following in the footsteps of major talent, Riri declined the opportunity and the paycheck that went with it. Her reasons were noble, but was it the right decision?
In case you’ve forgotten, the NFL has seen a lot of controversy and political strife within the last few years. Between the kneeling that caused the President to take notice, players getting benched for protesting, and even Vice President Mike Pence walking out of a game, the NFL has had some bad press.
When Rihanna was offered the halftime show, she said that she “couldn’t do that” to “her people” or to Colin Kaepernick.
At the time, Riri felt that, by agreeing to perform at the halftime show, she was condoning the actions of the NFL. She strongly believed (and still does, apparently) that Colin Kaepernick was being blackballed by the organization.
By agreeing to perform, no matter what the money and audience, she would have been betraying her beliefs and siding with them.
“I couldn’t do that.” She told Vogue in an interview this week. “For what? Who gains from that? Not my people … I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler.”
It seems that Kaepernick has taken notice of Riri’s stance and appreciates her support. He has recently retweeted statements she has made about the NFL and his issues with it several times.
It has to be flattering that someone like Rihanna sides with you, right?
Rihanna seems to be correct about Kaepernick being blackballed. He hasn’t played a single game since he began his protests in 2016, kneeling during the Star-Spangled Banner as a form of protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
It doesn’t seem like Jay-Z has the same moral issues with taking the NFL’s money as Riri does, as it was recently announced that he, along with Roc Nation, would be helping produce the halftime show this year.
The main talent is scheduled to be Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. The show Riri turned down ended up being headlined by Maroon 5 and Travis Scott.
