Following the news Rihanna will headline the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show, celebrities have taken to social media to share their reactions.
On Sunday, the NFL confirmed the news in an official press release titled, “International Icon Rihanna Takes Center Stage for Apple Music’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.”
The event will be produced by Jay-Z’s entertainment agency Roc Nation.
“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who exceeded expectations at every turn,” Jay-Z said in the press release. “A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent entertainers of all time. Self-taught in business and entertainment.”
NFL Music Director Seth Dudowsky added that the 34-year-old mother-of-one, who shares a son with boyfriend A$AP Rocky, 33, is a “one-in-a-generation artist” and a “cultural force”.
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Music and Beats, agreed that “Rihanna is an incredible recording artist”.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Rihanna, Roc Nation and the NFL to bring music and sports fans a memorable show – what an amazing artist for the first Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show,” he said in the Press release.
Apple Music is the new sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, replacing Pepsi.
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin; Insert BG020/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images
The NFL also shared the announcement via its Instagram account.
“Let’s go – @rihanna @rocnation #SBLVII @AppleMusic @NFLonFOX,” the organization captioned an image of the “Umbrella” singer’s hand holding a soccer ball.
Rihanna also posted the image on her own Instagram account.
As a result, fans and celebrities were quick to comment under his post, with Justin Bieber topping the A-list reactions.
“The queen is back,” wrote the 28-year-old Canada native, who has since racked up more than 34,000 likes.
“Yeah,” added Katy Perry, while Lindsay Lohan shared two red heart emojis.
Lizzo, meanwhile, said, “Screaming,” to which Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty brand replied, “SAME SIS!!”
“It’s about to be a movie,” Bebe Rexha added as Priyanka Chopra said, “Yasssssss.”
“I am here for this !!!!!” The The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills wrote star Garcelle Beauvais.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!” sell sunsetsaid Chrishell Stause.
“Rihanna!! Super Bowl?!?! Ahhh,” actress Chloe Bailey added via Twitter.
During an Apple Music 1 interview with Ebro, Dr. Dre also spoke.
“Oh my God. Let me tell you something man. I actually just found out that Rihanna is going to do [the Halftime Show] and I’m a huge Rihanna fan,” he told listeners. “I can’t wait to see what she’s up to.”
Super Bowl LVII is scheduled for February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. It is not yet known if other artists will join Rihanna on stage.
The Barbados-born star turned down the gig in 2019 in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. In 2016, the quarterback opted out of the national anthem to protest police brutality and injustice to people of color in the United States.
“I couldn’t dare to do this. For what? Who benefits? Not my people. I just couldn’t be sold. I couldn’t be an enabler,” she said. vogue at the time. “There are things within this organization that I strongly disagree with, and I wasn’t about to go and do them any favors in any way.”
Maroon 5 instead headlined the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show.
