Why are we praising Rihanna for keeping her clothes on at the Super Bowl?

Rihanna’s Super Bowl outfit is going viral but there’s a gross reason the singer is getting praise for her red hot look.

Rihanna performs onstage (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

OPINION

Rihanna’s being praised because she stayed fully clothed during her Super Bowl performance, and yes, we are still being this condescending to women in 2023.

Ever since Rihanna’s halftime show was announced, the speculation on what she would wear began. Yet, I don’t think anyone saw a more conservative look coming.

In recent years, the female uniform for a Super Bowl performance is a slightly revealing outfit with plenty of room to move and fair enough! Have you seen the moves these women pull out? There’s a reason ballerinas aren’t wearing baggy jeans when they plié.

Think Beyoncé’s sexy and sleek black playsuit or Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in their glittery numbers that showed off plenty of leg at their respective Super Bowl performances.

So, I don’t think it was wrong that people likely assumed Rihanna would be showing some skin.

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez brought their glitter game during their halftime show. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Beyonce rocked a black playsuit at her half time show. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Plot twist though! Rihanna’s a trendsetter for a reason because she bucked the scantily clad trend and stepped out in a loosely fitted red jumpsuit, oversized red jacket and debuted a fresh baby bump. Okay, Queen.

There were also no outfit changes during her performance, and she didn’t strip off at any point in her medley to reveal a sexier outfit underneath. Rihanna stayed very clothed, and the compliments came rolling in.

Rihanna went red hot for her performance. Picture:Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Rihanna went for an unexpected look Picture: AFP

Conservative commentator Candice Owens tweeted: “I don’t want to jinx it, but—- Rihanna is the first female Super Bowl performer in recent memory that has managed to keep her clothes on. Nudity doesn’t shock me anymore. Self-respect does.”

I don’t want to jinx it but—- Rihanna is the first female Super Bowl performer in recent memory that has managed to keep her clothes on.

Nudity doesn’t shock me anymore.

Self-respect does.

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) February 13, 2023

YouTuber Jake Paul, ironically known for constantly not wearing a shirt, tweeted, “Rihanna just did what most halftime performers, male or female, can’t do … slayed and stayed fully clothed. Legend.”

Rihanna just did what most halftime performers, male or female can’t do…slayed and stayed fully clothed. Legend.

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 13, 2023

Oh, dear! Are we really defining how much we should respect a woman by what she does or doesn’t wear? Applauding Rihanna for keeping her clothes on is not the vibe and it smells like sexism.

No one praised The Weeknd for keeping his clothes on during his 2021 Super Bowl performance.

I also didn’t see anyone accusing Adam Levine of not respecting himself when he pranced around shirtless on stage at the 2019 Super Bowl half time show.

So why is it different for Rihanna? Why do we constantly reduce women by what they do and don’t wear? It is so bloody boring.

Praising a woman for covering up is just as bad as judging a woman for showing some skin. Why can’t women just wear what they want without the constant judgment? You know like men do …

Adam Levine was shirtless for his performance (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Weeknd went for a glittery moment at his half time show. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

I understand being interested in Rihanna’s Super Bowl outfit; she’s a fashion icon. What she wears matters, mark my words, the loose jumpsuit will become very chic now, but the fact she showed less skin than expected doesn’t mean she deserves extra respect or extra praise. It also doesn’t make her any better or worse then her female peers.

Rihanna’s more conservative fashion looks tell us plenty about upcoming style trends – I reckon baggy is here to stay! But it reveals zero about Rihanna’s worth or self-worth.

Originally published as Why are we praising Rihanna for keeping her clothes on at the Super Bowl?