Entertainment
Music

Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show and announcement is breaking the internet

Rihanna's super bowl halftime show was iconic for multiple reasons.
By Chance Townsend  on 
Rihanna performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona
Credit: Gregory Shamus via Getty

Rihanna's highly-anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday night was met with a mix of excitement and praise from fans and stans across the internet. From passionate praise of the pop star's energy and showmanship to poking fun at the excellent set design, the performance sparked a range of emotions across social media.

Rihanna's 15-minute set featured classic songs across the singer's discography including “Where Have You Been”, “Only Girl in the World”, “We Found Love”, “Rude Boy”, “Work”, “Wild Wild”, “Blow it Up”, “All of the Lights”, “Run this Town”, “Umbrella” and “Diamonds”.

Before the halftime show even began

As Mashable covered earlier this week, many have speculated or tried to predict Rihanna's setlist or even how'd she come out on Sunday. Many fans have even expressed that if the show didn't start with "Pon de Replay" then the performance would already be a bust.

What an opener

At +1100 odds in Vegas, Riri decided to bless the Superbowl with "Bitch Better Have My Money" to start the halftime. From the setlist of classic Rihanna songs to the set design to that AMAZING red coat, this year's halftime show was a spectacle and social media agrees.

Super Smash Bros set design

Some users have pointed out the excellent set design and that it bears a similar resemblance to certain fan-favorite Nintendo video game series.

The biggest reveal of the night

The biggest surprise of the performance may have been the announcement of Rihanna's second pregnancy. The appearance of a baby bump had some speculating that may be the case and they were right. And it may have broken the internet...more so than the first time. Everyone is happy for Rihanna but most are mad at the father of her children, rapper A$AP Rocky.

Headshot of a Black man
Chance Townsend
Weekend Editor

Currently residing in Denton, Texas, Chance Townsend is Mashable's Weekend Editor. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Journalism at the University of North Texas with the bulk of his research primarily focused on online communities, dating apps, and professional wrestling.

In his free time, he's an avid cook, loves to sleep, and "enjoys" watching the Lions and Pistons break his heart on a weekly basis. If you have any stories or recipes that might be of interest you can reach him by email at [email protected]


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