Rihanna confirms pregnancy after Super Bowl half-time show

For a performer of Rihanna’s ilk, the problem with taking time away from the stage is that the longer you make people wait, the more they tend to expect.

And when your return is slated for one of pop culture’s most coveted slots - the Super Bowl Half-Time Show - the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Rihanna’s representatives have confirmed the singer is pregnant.

It’s been five years since she last performed on stage, appearing at the Grammy’s in 2018 and even longer since she released a record, her most recent album was 2016’s Anti. Such was the anticipation for Rihanna’s performance that the internet was awash with jokes about how the Super Bowl was getting in the way of a Rihanna concert.

So, did the comeback match the build-up?

As far as moments go, Rihanna’s performance will be remembered for what came after: the singer’s representatives confirming to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety that she is expecting her second child.

During the half-time show, speculation about whether the singer was sporting a baby bump started doing the rounds on social media.

Rihanna and her merry band of Michelin Men.

There was no Beyonce-style belly-rub-and-smile, so we had to wait until after the performance for official confirmation.

Rihanna, and her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, are currently the parents of a 9-month-old boy, which they welcomed in May last year.

In an interview that took place ahead of her half-time performance, the Grammy winner admitted that she was apprehensive about performing at the Super Bowl.

“The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world, so as scary as that was…there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all,” she said. “It’s important for my son to see that.

But will this latest baby announcement elevate the show into the Super Bowl Half-Time hall of fame? Probably not.

Rihanna’s 13-minute medley was a celebration of her 18 years in the game, beginning with B---h Better Have My Money before launching into a selection of her greatest hits, including Where Have You Been, Only Girl (In the World), We Found Love, Rude Boy, Work, Wild Thoughts, Pour It Up, All Of The Lights, Run This Town, Umbrella and finally, Diamonds.

Performing while pregnant is hugely impressive, and with the knowledge that Rihanna is expecting, this was always going to be a different kind of show.

She also deserves plaudits for delivering the Kanye West track All Of The Lights with such force that you could forget who made the song and enjoy the moment. Extra points for using her own Fenty Beauty brand powder to touch up her makeup during the song.

Credit also to Rihanna’s backup dancers who worked overtime during the show to keep vibes high while dressed like Michelin men.

But while the set selection was mostly flawless (spare a thought for Pon De Replay fans, though), Rihanna opted to go without surprise guests, as is custom for the Super Bowl half-time performance.

Rihanna is one of the world’s most accomplished solo artists; she has 14 number-one hits, the fourth most of all time, and is not someone who requires other artists to shine.

But the Super Bowl Half-Time show is a high-energy spectacle tailor-made for sensory overload.

Over the years, we’ve seen Aerosmith bring out Nelly, Mary J. Blige, and Britney Spears, Shania Twain revealed Sting while Katy Perry brought out Lenny Kravitz to sing I Kissed a Girl and performed Get Ur Freak On with Missy Elliot.

Given many of Rihanna’s tracks feature high-profile duets with the likes of Drake, Nicki Minaj, Jay Z, Paul McCartney, and Calvin Harris, fans might’ve expected a cameo or two. Especially considering both Jay Z and McCartney were spotted attending the game.

Fans were also hopeful that the half-time show might include a clue about a possible new album or future tour. Instead, they had to settle for Rihanna doing what she does best: keeping the people guessing.

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