Rihanna's Halftime Show Turned Pregnancy Announcement

Rihanna sings at the Superbowl Halftime Show. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP from Getty Images

Pop star Rihanna performed a stunning medley of 12 of her biggest hits during the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 12 in which she announced her new pregnancy, proudly revealing her bump during the show. 

She began the show strong with her 2015 hit “B---- Better Have My Money," and ended with a beloved rendition of “Diamonds,” back from 2012. She later admitted to her fans that fitting an 18-year catalog into a 13-minute set was “tough” but ultimately achievable.

She was staged on hovering, swaying platforms, along with upwards of 280 backup dancers covered head to toe in white coats and skiing gear, which have now become an online meme. Their costumes have been famously compared to marshmallows, Oompa Loompas and even white blood cells. Rihanna herself sported a red jumpsuit with a shiny red bustier, paired with a high ponytail and elaborate earrings.  

However, like previous Super Bowl halftime show performers, Rihanna faced backlash for allegedly lip-synching. Many have even gone so far as to label it the “worst ever infraction in the history of halftime shows.” That being said, NFL policy requires performers to pre-record their music and then sing over the recording as a “musical safety net.” So, while there were backup vocals, Rihanna was truly singing during most of the performance.

The accused lip-synching was not the most discussed topic of the performance, though. Google searches for “Rihanna pregnancy” and “Is Rihanna pregnant?” skyrocketed as her bump was shown across the nation. A representative confirmed shortly after her show that she is newly pregnant.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have announced that they are extremely excited for their second child, although they weren’t expecting to be pregnant so soon after Rihanna gave birth to their first son in May of 2022. Although she was concerned about leaving her young son for the Super Bowl performance, she clarified that it was ultimately motherhood that inspired her to star in the show. 

Her pregnancy was a well-kept secret, even from her backup dancers, as she only wore baggy clothes during rehearsal. Last month during the Golden Globes, Rihanna was seen wearing a loose-fitting outfit and covering her stomach with her purse. 

Many compliment Rihanna for her dedication to family and look forward to figuring out how having two young children will impact her music career in the future.