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Following the news Rihanna will headline the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, celebrities have taken to social media to share their reactions.
On Sunday, the NFL confirmed the news in an official press release titled: "International Icon Rihanna Takes Center Stage for Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show."
The event will be produced by Jay-Z's Roc Nation entertainment agency.
"Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn," Jay-Z said in the press release. "A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment."
Seth Dudowsky, head of music at NFL, added that the mother of one, 34—who shares a son with boyfriend A$AP Rocky, 33—is a "once in a generation artist" and a "cultural force."
Oliver Schusser, Apple's Vice President of Apple Music and Beats, agreed that "Rihanna is an incredible recording artist."
"We're excited to partner with Rihanna, Roc Nation and the NFL to bring music and sports fans a momentous show—what an incredible artist for the inaugural Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show," he said in the press release.
Apple Music is the new sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, replacing Pepsi.
The NFL also shared the announcement via its Instagram account.
"Let's GO - @rihanna @rocnation #SBLVII @AppleMusic @NFLonFOX," the organization captioned an image of the "Umbrella" singer's hand holding a football.
Rihanna also posted the image to her own Instagram account.
As a result, fans and celebrities quickly commented underneath her post, with Justin Bieber leading the A-list reactions.
"The queen is back," the Canada native, 28, wrote, which has since garnered more than 34,000 likes.
"Hell yeah," Katy Perry added, while Lindsay Lohan shared two red heart emojis.
Lizzo, meanwhile, said, "Screaming," to which Rihanna's Fenty Beauty brand replied: "SAME SIS!!"
"This is about to be a movie," Bebe Rexha chimed in as Priyanka Chopra said, "Yasssssss."
"I'm here for it!!!!!!" The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais wrote.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!" Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause said.
"Rihanna!! Super Bowl?!?! Ahhh," actress Chloe Bailey added via Twitter.
During an interview on Apple Music 1 with Ebro, Dr. Dre also weighed in.
"Oh, my God. Let me tell you something, man. I actually just got the news that Rihanna's going to do [the Halftime Show] and I'm a super fan of Rihanna," he told listeners. "I can't wait to see what she's going to do."
Super Bowl LVII is scheduled for February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. It is not yet known if any other artists will be joining Rihanna on stage.
The Barbados-born star famously turned down the gig in 2019 in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. In 2016, the quarterback chose not to stand for the national anthem to protest against police brutality and injustice toward people of color in the United States.
"I couldn't dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn't be a sellout. I couldn't be an enabler," she told Vogue at the time. "There's things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way."
Maroon 5 headlined the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime Show instead.
About the writer
Megan Cartwright is Newsweek's Deputy Entertainment Editor, based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. pop culture and entertainment ... Read more