Rihanna turns down Super Bowl show, backs Kaepernick

[rooster59]

Rihanna turns down Super Bowl show, backs Kaepernick

 

Cast member Rihanna poses as she arrives at the world premiere of the film "Ocean's 8" at Alice Tully Hall in New York City, New York, U.S., June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop superstar Rihanna declined an offer to perform at a Super Bowl halftime show because she supported former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice, according to media reports.

 

US Weekly and other reports cited an unnamed source as saying that the NFL and broadcaster CBS Corp "really wanted Rihanna to be next year's performer."

 

However, she declined in support of Kaepernick, the first player to kneel as the national anthem played at a game in protest over racial inequality and police brutality against black people and minorities in the United States.

 

"They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn't agree with the NFL's stance," the source told US Weekly.

 

Rihanna's decision to reject the offer over a political issue follows her Instagram message earlier this month urging fans to vote in the November U.S. congressional elections. She is one of several celebrities who have taken political stances ahead of the voting.

 

The Super Bowl is the year's most-watched U.S. television broadcast of the year, regularly drawing more than 100 million viewers. The game will be played on Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Representatives for the NFL and Rihanna did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A CBS spokeswoman directed questions to the NFL.

 

An unnamed source told Entertainment Tonight that the NFL approached both Rihanna and singer Pink early in its halftime show discussions, but that both women moved on when the negotiations took a long time. That source said Kaepernick did not come up in those early conversations.

 

Kaepernick's decision to begin kneeling during the anthem in 2016 sparked a heated national debate, with critics including U.S. President Donald Trump calling the players unpatriotic. The NFL gave in to pressure from Trump and ordered players not to kneel on the field during the anthem.

 

After the protests, Kaepernick could not find a job for the 2017 season and sued the NFL, accusing owners of colluding to blackball him. He is still without a team.

 

Several media outlets have reported that the NFL has selected pop band Maroon 5 as the halftime performer, but no announcement has been made.

 

Representatives for Pink and Maroon 5 did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-20

[Jingthing]

Good. Kaepernick should be an NFL quarterback based on his skills, but isn't based on unfair discrimination. So to Rihanna -- Just Don't Do It!  

[guest879]

Kapernick was a failed NFL football star, supporting an absolute lie of a race baiting cause. NFL is failing for their miss handling of the whole affair. Just to add to it all is Rihanna, filmed at a failed feminist SJW remake of a great film franchise. Christ I wish athletes and entertainers could just stick to doing what they get paid to do and leave our sports and movies to be what they should be, entertainment.

[lust]

Black pop star refuses to perform at the biggest and most televised game because of racism... lol what?

[Jingthing]

  On 10/22/2018 at 5:13 AM, lust said:

Black pop star refuses to perform at the biggest and most televised game because of racism... lol what?

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There is no logic in your comment. It's similar to people pushing the false narrative that electing Obama as president meant the end of racism in the USA. Instead, we got the backlash of the next president running and ruling with constant racist dog whistles (and worse).

[Jingthing]

  On 10/21/2018 at 7:42 AM, guest879 said:

Kapernick was a failed NFL football star, supporting an absolute lie of a race baiting cause. NFL is failing for their miss handling of the whole affair. Just to add to it all is Rihanna, filmed at a failed feminist SJW remake of a great film franchise. Christ I wish athletes and entertainers could just stick to doing what they get paid to do and leave our sports and movies to be what they should be, entertainment.

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His skill level is debatable. It's definitely true that he would never be a top level player. But there is also a wide consensus that he's more than good enough to be a backup QB and potentially a starter. There is truth I think in stating he's not good enough to be worth the headache for owners of his controversy to bother with him and if he was top level, he would be. But he's still being excluded from a job he is qualified for (at least a backup QB) not based on his skills, but based on politics.

[CGW]

  On 10/21/2018 at 7:42 AM, guest879 said:

Christ I wish athletes and entertainers could just stick to doing what they get paid to do and leave our sports and movies to be what they should be, entertainment.

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You & me both! unfortunately their "owners" wont let them! ????

[Jingthing]

For now anyway, athletes and artists the enjoy the same rights of free speech as everyone else. The public also has a right to give extra weight to their views, or not

[guest879]

  On 10/22/2018 at 5:27 AM, Jingthing said:

His skill level is debatable. It's definitely true that he would never be a top level player. But there is also a wide consensus that he's more than good enough to be a backup QB and potentially a starter. There is truth I think in stating he's not good enough to be worth the headache for owners of his controversy to bother with him and if he was top level, he would be. But he's still being excluded from a job he is qualified for (at least a backup QB) not based on his skills, but based on politics.

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I cant imagine how much money he has cost the NFL. that might have something to do with him not being able to play any more. he can make more money with his race baiting victimhood career anyway.

[observer90210]

She does have some good points though...

[beechguy]

Hopefully, before it's too late, somebody can remind her that it is not mandatory to apply for U.S. Citizenship, and she can pack up her crap and go back home. 

 

More importantly, the next time someone is beating the snot out of her, please don't endanger a police officers life by calling 911.

[Carib]

  On 10/23/2018 at 8:09 PM, beechguy said:

Hopefully, before it's too late, somebody can remind her that it is not mandatory to apply for U.S. Citizenship, and she can pack up her crap and go back home. 

 

More importantly, the next time someone is beating the snot out of her, please don't endanger a police officers life by calling 911.

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Great, and all this because of turning down a superbowl thingy? America is becoming worse and worse every day. Some answers here proof that point.

[beechguy]

  On 10/23/2018 at 9:11 PM, Carib said:

Great, and all this because of turning down a superbowl thingy? America is becoming worse and worse every day. Some answers here proof that point.

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Obviously I was writing over your head. I do not care about the Super Bowl, and certainly not the half time performance. I do have a problem with a dope smoking foreigner, being critical of U.S. society, and law enforcement.

[Carib]

No, I got it right the first time alright, you just made it worse by stating that foreigners should not criticize anything american. Try that the other way around for starters. 

[beechguy]

  On 10/23/2018 at 11:01 PM, Carib said:

No, I got it right the first time alright, you just made it worse by stating that foreigners should not criticize anything american. Try that the other way around for starters. 

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I consider the source, and if you think it's ok for her, then as a U.S. citizen, it is certainly my right to state an opinion. Get over it if you don't like it.

 

I actually dislike Kaepernick for more than Rihanna, and wonder how much of his Nike paycheck he contributed, to charity or legal funds for those he feels are being abused.  

[sirineou]

  On 10/20/2018 at 1:14 PM, rooster59 said:

Rihanna turns down Super Bowl show,

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That's it!!! I am not watching the game, I don't care how many home runs they kick.????