Support for Colin Kaepernick and the social justice movement he is spearheading continues to grow.
According to US Weekly, Rihanna declined an offer to headline the Super Bowl LIII halftime show, citing her support for Kaep as playing a key role in her decision.
“The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta,” an insider source close with the ANTI singer shared in a statement. “They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.”
As reported, once Rihanna turned down the offer, the NFL extended the opportunity to Maroon 5. The pop-rock group accepted, sparking rumors Cardi B will be a special guest. Their collaborative single, “Girls Like Us,” is currently sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100, where it has been poised for the past four weeks.
At the time of this report, Kaepernick has not yet commented on Rihanna’s decision not to participate in the NFL’s annual halftime celebration. Her fans, however, have praised the move of solidarity. They’re expressing how the decision to turn down the highly coveted performance slot was a noble one. It has also been reported that Pink also turned down the opportunity for the same reason.
Kaepernick began a national movement in 2016 when he chose to kneel during the national anthem to peacefully protest against police brutality and racial inequality. Since then, he’s filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of colluding to keep him off the field.
Take a look at fans sounding off on Rihanna’s decision to decline performing during the Super Bowl halftime show in the tweets below.