Sport becomes (almost) a minor matter: Rihanna’s Super Bowl appearance had been eagerly awaited by her fans for weeks. And the 34-year-old didn’t disappoint. She used “the biggest stage in the world” not only for a medley, but also for a very personal revelation.
Rihanna is pregnant again! With a clearly recognizable belly, the superstar presented himself to millions of TV viewers in Glendale, Arizona. According to US media reports, their representatives later confirmed the news. The singer from the Caribbean island of Barbados and her partner, the US rapper Asap Rocky (“Praise the Lord”), became parents for the first time nine months ago. Her boy was born on May 13 in Los Angeles.
Rihanna’s performance was also brilliant apart from the baby news. She strung together some of her biggest hits for the medley during the National Football League (NFL) finals. For »Bitch Better Have My Money« and »Diamonds«, the singer from Barbados and her dancers floated on movable stages in the stadium.
The Super Bowl halftime show was Rihanna’s first appearance in over five years. And she couldn’t have chosen a more befitting occasion: At the NFL final between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale (Arizona), around 100 million TV viewers were expected in the USA alone. The Super Bowl is considered the largest single sporting event in the world. However, the top ratings are always reached by the approximately 13-minute halftime show, which can be seen as a muscle flexing of the US entertainment industry.
Jay-Z in the stadium, not on the stage
Rihanna performed her songs like “We Found Love” all in red, surrounded by dancers dressed in white. But fans around the world had to do without a star guest: Rihanna sang the super hit “Umbrella” alone, without co-musician Jay-Z. Many had previously speculated that the superstar rapper, previously spotted at the stadium, would take the stage for the song. The online reactions to Rihanna’s appearance were mostly positive.
At the Super Bowl, not only the halftime show, but even the is popular. The commercials are shot exclusively for the mega event at great expense. Stars often appear in them. According to media reports, the broadcasting TV broadcaster Fox will receive up to seven million US dollars this year for a 30-second commercial. In American professional football, even the course of the game and the pauses between plays depend on the length of the advertisements that are shown.
In front of more than 60,000 spectators in the arena in Glendale, Rihanna was not the only music star: the American anthem was sung by country legend Chris Stapleton and traditionally ended with US fighter jets flying roaring over the stadium. US singer Babyface also made an appearance.
Rihanna, who had rejected an appearance at the Super Bowl a few years ago because of structural racism in the NFL, had to meet great expectations on Sunday evening, because performances in recent years have been nothing short of sensational.
In 2022, rap superstars Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar in Los Angeles. And the year before, musicians »The Weeknd« brought the arena to a boil with his performance. The appearance of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in 2020 quickly became legendary.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230213-99-573144/8