Representation a “big reason” Rihanna is performing Super Bowl halftime

When Rihanna first announced she’d be performing at halftime during the Super Bowl this year, it was shocking for two reasons. One - she has not performed since 2018 and has not toured since 2016. Two - she had previously turned down an opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl because she disagreed with the NFL’s ethics.

Why did Rihanna have a change of heart?

When Rihanna turned down the Super Bowl in 2019, she did not give specific examples, but said there are “things within the organization” that she does not agree with and she did not want to be an “enabler”. She also questioned who gains something from it, saying, “not my people”. Of course, at that time, quarterback Colin Kaepernick started a movement by kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games in protest of racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.

Meanwhile, Rihanna has been on a seven-year hiatus from making music and touring and it’s been five years since her last performance. She’s been busy since then, building her beauty brand and business and she recently had a child with partner and fellow music artist A$AP Rocky.

So, what happened that changed Rihanna’s mind in 2023? Why is she now okay with performing at the Super Bowl? During her press conference with Apple Music, she explained a bit where she stands on making music currently.

“Musically, I’m feeling open,” Rihanna said. “I’m feeling open to exploring, discovering, and creating things that are new. Things that are different. Things that are off. Weird. Might not ever make sense to my fans. I just want to play. I want to have fun. I want to have fun with music.”

It was rumored that Rihanna may also announce tour dates during the press conference, but she did not, nor did she say whether or not we can expect a new album at all. She did say that this performance is going to be a celebration, not of the game, but of her Caribbean roots and of all Black women.

“That’s a big part of why this is important for me to do this show: representation,” said Rihanna. “Representing for immigrants. Representing for Black women everywhere. That’s key for people to see the possibilities. It’s a long way from home, right? It’s a beautiful journey that I’m on. I could have never guessed that I would have made it here, so it’s a celebration of that. I’m really excited to have Barbados on the Super Bowl stage.”

Rihanna also said that becoming a mother made her feel even stronger and made her want to do something big and meaningful, especially to show that representation to her child.

“There is something that just happens where you feel like you can take on the world. You can do anything,” Rihanna said. “The Super Bowl is one of the big stages in the world, so as scary as that was because I haven’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all. It’s important for me to do this this year. It’s important for representation. It’s important for my son to see that.”