How Rihanna’s Halftime Show took the World by Surprise

The moment fans had been anticipating for seven years had finally arrived. A nostalgic “Oh nah-nah, what’s my name?” echoed as the Apple Music banner faded away, revealing a closeup of a confident, radiant Rihanna staring at the world dead on. The cameras zoomed out as the global star sang the all-familiar “Yayo, yayo” of her explosive record, “B*tch Better Have My Money (BBHM)”  as she stood at the top of a pyramid of suspended platforms above the stadium. Starting the show with such a powerful song let the audience know they were in for a dynamic performance and that RiRi was finally back. 

On Feb. 12, Barbadian artist and businesswoman Robyn Rihanna Fenty made a notable comeback in her 13-minute act during the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show. Her powerful performance featured a very special guest- her unborn child. Rihanna subtly revealed her pregnancy less than a year after she and rapper A$AP Rocky welcomed their first child into the world.

Around the end of BBHMM,  fans started leaning forward, trying to figure out whether their eyes were deceiving them. “Okay… I mean this seriously…is she pregnant?” asked comedian Kalen Allen via Twitter.  About a minute into Rihanna’s performance, a slight shadow near her belly was visible in one of the first front-facing full-body shots of the artist during the show.  It also became clear that the Barbados native wasn’t dancing as much as she had in past performances, neglecting her waist while utilizing her limbs and shoulders for movement. Another key moment took place during her last song. She was back in the air on the platform from the beginning of the performance and was beautifully belting “Diamonds.” As she sang the line, “I’m alive, we’re like diamonds in the sky,” Rihanna gently caressed her belly; it was a small gesture, but it successfully caught the attention of those watching. 

Viewers didn’t know what to believe before the pregnancy was confirmed. 

The 34-year-old sported an all-red ensemble featuring coveralls and a sleek vinyl breastplate. She was accompanied by a troupe of backup dancers dressed in white loose-fitting jackets and pants, with Savage x Fenty boxers peeking through. The set list showcased the artist’s top hits throughout her career such as: “Where Have you Been,” “Only Girl (In the World),” “We Found Love,” “Rude Boy,” “Work,” “Wild Thoughts,” “Pour it Up,” “Run this Town,” “Umbrella,” and “Diamonds.” After the show, ‘Pregnant’ was trending on Twitter, as fans wondered if they had all seen the same thing. The virtual chaos resulted in malfunctions on the social media platform. Less than an hour later, one of the artist’s representatives confirmed that she was expecting her second child.  

In the days leading up to the championship game, Rihanna and other Super Bowl performers appeared at a news conference where journalist Nadeska Alexis told the Fenty Beauty CEO that she seemed to be glowing. The artist shrugged it off and credited Fenty highlighter while sitting back in a coat that succeeded in hiding her baby bump.  Little did Alexis know, it was the all-encompassing pregnancy glow experienced by many when expecting. During this conference, Rihanna shared that becoming a mom has made her feel unstoppable. “You feel like you can take on the world- like you can do anything.” Even though she had been nervous about performing on one of the biggest stages in the world, the singer expressed the challenge was exhilarating. “It’s important for me to do this, this year. It’s important for representation, and it’s important for my son to see that,” she said. Even though she was 60 feet in the air, she remained poised and showcased her fearlessness and commitment to the set. 

Rihanna’s halftime performance had 39 different versions, as the artist felt an immense amount of pressure to curate her set list to perfection to do her name and country justice. “Representation for immigrants, representation for my country, representation for Black women. That’s really important. That’s key for people to see the possibilities.” Her drive to inspire shows how much she cares about her craft and how important whatever product she puts out (from makeup to lingerie to music) must be nothing less than perfect. 

Since the release of her last studio album “Anti” in 2016, fans have wondered when new music will be on the way. With this pregnancy reveal, many are starting to believe that the artist has officially retired. “Work robs you of time with your child,” she expressed to Alexis in their conversation. There is still a tiny glimmer of hope, as she continued to say that musically, she’s “feeling open to exploring, discovering, things that are new” and that she “just [wants] to have fun with music.” 

Maybe another Rihanna album will hit directories one day, but as her family continues to grow, it’s safe to say that might not happen for a while. In the meantime, Fenty Beauty and Savage X both released Super Bowl-themed collections, further rooting the star’s performance in history. Many believe the artist has retired, but the passion and curiosity she’s shown for her craft and its future leave the door for possibility wide open.