Rihanna sent her cult-like ‘navy’ into an epic frenzy on social media when, in a single tweet captioned with only a period, she confirmed her 2023 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Rihanna at 2023 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show: Here are the details
The cosmetics impresario, whose fanbase has, for years, begged for an artistic showing, will grace the most coveted music slot, which, earlier this year, drew more than 120 million viewers worldwide, per BBC News.
In a joint statement between the NFL, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Apple Music, the new mom was described as “a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn.”
“A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment,” Jay-Z wrote of his protege.
The 2023 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show will be the nine-time Grammy Award winner’s first appearance on stage in five years. Rihanna’s addition to next year’s Halftime Show comes three years after she had publicly turned down the prospect of partaking in the 14-minute spectacle.
In a 2019 Vogue interview, Rihanna showed solidarity to NFL-quarterback-turned-civil-rights-activist Colin Kaepernick and revealed she’d turned down an offer to headline the NFL event back then.
“”I just couldn’t be a sell-out. There’s things within that organisation that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way,” Rih said at the time.
It seems the influence of her mentor and close friend, Shawn Carter, has played a crucial role in mending the relationship.
Earlier this year, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Shady Aftermath affiliates Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Mary J Blige took over the 2022 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show, an event that scored a 2022 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the … Halftime Show stage. Rihanna is a once-in-a-generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career,” NFL music boss Seth Dudowsky wrote in the statement.
Here’s how social media reacted to the news:
