While Riri felt 'powerful' to represent her community with halftime show, the singer claims further changes need to be made to fight racism and inequality in the country.
- Feb 16, 2023
AceShowbiz - Rihanna believes there is a "lot of mending to be done" but she felt it was "powerful" for her to perform at the Super Bowl. Previously turning down the opportunity to headline the halftime slot at the flagship NFL game in 2019 as a show of solidarity for Colin Kaepernick - who alleged he had been frozen out by the organisation due to his protests against racial injustice, the 34-year-old singer eventually took to the stage in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, February 12 during the sporting extravaganza and has now explained her decision to do so.
"There's still a lot of mending to be done in my eyes, but it's powerful to break those doors, and have representation at such a high, high level and a consistent level. Two Super Bowls back-to-back, you know, representing the urban community, globally. It is powerful. It sends a really strong message," she said, referring to last year's halftime performers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.
And the birth of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's son - whose name hasn't been publicly revealed - last May was also a factor in her decision. She told Britain's Vogue magazine, "Raising a young Black man is one of the scariest responsibilities in life. You're like, 'What am I leaving my kids to? This is the planet they're gonna be living on?' All of those things really start to hit differently."
Meanwhile, Rihanna - who revealed during the Super Bowl she's pregnant with her second child - admitted becoming parents has brought her and Rocky closer together. She said, "We're best friends with a baby. [...] We have to be on the same page, but we've always kind of had that in our relationship. Everything changes when you have a baby but I wouldn't say it's done anything but made us closer."
And the "Work" hitmaker loves to see the bond between the two men in her life. She said, "The second Rocky makes eye contact with him, he is on fire. The whole thing they say about sons and moms, it's a myth. Sons and fathers is crazy. I realised that the validation that you really need as a boy is from your father."
See the full feature in the March issue of British Vogue available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday, February 21. Read more at vogue.co.uk.
