In 2019, she was asked to perform for the halftime show, but she declined, citing the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick. She essentially agreed with the interpretation that the quarterback was blackballed by the NFL due to his protests during the national anthem.
Speaking to Vogue in 2019, she said:
It begs the question then, though, why has Rihanna now changed her tune and agreed to perform for the Super Bowl? There have been certain changes to the situation which may explain why she will perform the halftime show.
Rihanna will perform in a changed NFL
There have been two primary changes that have happened since Rihanna declined to perform in 2019. The first is that in the same year, the NFL settled with Colin Kaepernick regarding his grievances. That at least could be construed as the first step to reconciliation.
The second were the steps the NFL took after the murder of George Floyd. It caused a wider reckoning in society and the league was not far behind in recognizing the moment. Commissioner Roger Goodell came and said up front that they recognized the value of black lives. This was a forthright position for the league to take in the climate at the time.
The NFL went as far as to apologize for its previous stances. This could have allowed performances a degree of assurance that the league had learnt from its past missteps. In getting her to perform for the halftime show, the Super Bowl has snagged one of the top global artists in the world for the halftime show. The Super Bowl is slated to be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Vogue and H/T Sportskeeda.
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