Rihanna reportedly turned down an offer to appear on the year’s biggest TV-music stage — the Super Bowl halftime show — in support of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Citing an unnamed source, Us Weekly said the megastar singer “supports Colin Kaepernick.”
“The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta” for the 2019 Super Bowl, the source told Us Weekly. “They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.”
Mr. Kaepernick began the movement of kneeling during the national anthem to protest police racism and misconduct in 2016, though the practice has largely fizzled out this season.
The quarterback refused the 49ers’ contract offer after the 2016 season to test the free-agent market but has remained unsigned ever since, a victim, his supporters say of racist collusion by the league owners. He has filed a grievance against the league to that effect.
According to Us magazine, after Rihanna refused the request to headline at the Super Bowl, the league offered the slot to Maroon 5. Us Weekly’s sources also were the first to report that development last month.
There may be more controversy though.
Us reported that “multiple sources later told Us that Cardi B may be a special guest during Maroon 5’s set.”
“She is definitely being considered, but it’s obviously way too early to say for sure,” one insider told Us. Another source told the celebrity-news magazine that “Pepsi, the NFL and Cardi are all interested in her performing more than just her ’Girls Like You’ verse.”
However, back in February, Cardi B said she would only perform on the NFL halftime show “when they hire Colin Kaepernick.” And at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2017, he said, “Colin Kaepernick, as long as you kneel with us, we’re gonna be standing for you, baby.”
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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