According to a source, “The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta. They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, their source said Rihanna was "the front-runner" for the halftime show, but "after thinking about the offer, [she] decided to pass." They said Rihanna "stands with the players and Colin Kaepernick.
The offer and exposure would have been great for Rihanna as she’s planning a new album and tour but she stuck to what’s right in her eyes."
Meanwhile, ET also reports that Pink walked away from negotiations to perform, not for political reasons, but because reaching an agreement was taking too long. She performed the National Anthem ahead of the 2018 Super Bowl.
The same source who told ET about Pink claimed that Rihanna also walked away from the opportunity because negotiations were taking too long, the source said that Kaepernick wasn't a consideration at all.
Ahead of Super Bowl LII, Pink showed Instagram photo of her National Anthem rehearsal, which was tough because she was suffering from a cold. "I will tell you, this is one of the biggest honors of my life, singing this song in front of my family, my military family, my dad and brother and step mama and family and the world. And the EAGLES!?!?!"
She wrote. "I promise I will do my best, as I always do."
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Although Maroon 5 is reportedly playing next year's halftime show, the band, the NFL, and Super Bowl sponsor Pepsi have yet to make a formal announcement. Whatever happens, we'll always wonder what a Rihanna or Pink halftime show would have looked like.
