Rihanna is gearing up to take the stage at this year’s Halftime Show, and fans are super excited. The pop star has not graced our screens in years, and people have been eager for a show and possibly new music. However, Rihanna’s history of risque performances has some wondering if she will be respectful to the large family audience tuning in or if she will be inappropriate. Those fears have some requesting that they cancel her set.
RIHANNA RETURNS #SuperBowl 🔥pic.twitter.com/dFbeT0rK8D
— Rihanna Online (@RihannaOnlineBR) February 8, 2023
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is supposed to be a family-friendly showcase from one of pop’s biggest stars. Over the years, we’ve seen many of the greats take the stage, from Prince to Michael Jackson and more. Some performances have left audiences more disturbed than entertained. Arguably the most famous instance of this was the 2004 Super Bowl. Janet Jackson headlined with guest performances from Kid Rock, Nelly, and Justin Timberlake. Timberlake’s inclusion appeared towards the end of the show when he popped up on stage to perform “Rock You Body” with Janet Jackson. At the end of the number, he reached over and ripped a piece of her top, exposing the singer.
The incident resulted in major backlash for Jackson, who was immediately blackballed. Timberlake would go on an apology campaign and was invited back decades later to headline his own Halftime show. News reports from the time state that “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined CBS for an indecency violation of $27,500 and increased it to $325,000. They eventually fined CBS a record $550,000 for the incident, but that fine was ultimately voided by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011, and a case to reinstate the fine was refused in 2012.”
This would not be the last Superbowl Halftime show to upset the FCC or NFL. In 2012, the league fined rapper M.I.A $1.5 million for flashing the middle finger during her cameo in Madonna’s Halftime performance. They raised the fine to $15 million by 2014 and tried to garnish all her earnings from music. She eventually settled with them, and it is unclear how much she ultimately paid.
rihanna could just give this same performance again at the superbowl and id still thank her
— ♡ kiran ♡ (@_veryspicy) February 9, 2023
pic.twitter.com/m6MgiZzQal
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira shared the stage in 2020, much to the dismay of certain Americans. “This year’s show was extremely provocative in the female body moments, and the simulated patting of J Lo’s derrière is not for family television,” one person wrote to the FCC. Another said, “The halftime show was disgusting. The close-ups of J-Lo’s vagina and anus was yucky. There was a stripper pole and a simulated orgy.”
Well, if they have not been to a Rihanna show yet, they are in for a treat. Riri knows how to put on a performance and has always been very liberated with her outfits and choreography. She’s also been very vocal about politics, and one Republican does not think she should be allowed to take the stage. Congressman Ronny Jackson tweeted, “She’s made a career of spewing degenerate filth while badmouthing America every chance she gets. Why is the NFL showcasing this crap? Rihanna SHOULD NOT be the halftime performer!!”
Rihanna spray painted “F*** Donald Trump” on a car at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. She’s made a career of spewing degenerate filth while badmouthing America every chance she gets. Why is the NFL showcasing this crap? Rihanna SHOULD NOT be the halftime performer!!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) February 9, 2023
Actress and comedian Roseanne Barr appears to have a distaste for Rihanna bashing trump as well. The former actress sent a DM to Rihanna’s boyfriend where she appeared to shoot her shot at ASAP Rocky. In the DM, Rosanne stated, “Call me when you get tired of Rihanna” and shared the screenshot. In her caption, Rosanne wrote, “shooting my shot.”
If you recall, Roseanne Barr claimed ABC canceled her show because she voted for Trump. The former actress went on to say that she was the only canceled person who has lost everything. Now leading up to Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance it appears she’s trying to get under the singer’s skin. See the DM below.
Of course, ASAP Rocky did not respond. Despite the backlash, Rihanna will hit the stage during the Super Bowl’s halftime show tonight.
