Rihanna didn't need any special guests, costume changes or tricks, aside from those floating platforms -- she was all about the music ... and that bump!
After much anticipation, Rihanna took over State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for a pulses-pounding Super Bowl Halftime Show journey through her greatest hits.
It was one of the more ambitious stagings for a Halftime Show, with Rihanna and some of her dancers starting the performance on massive platforms raised above the playing field. The whole structure seemed to stretch almost the length of the field.
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View StoryAdorned in a red jump suit unzipped to the waist with a shiny bodice underneath, RiRi exuded confidence as she moved about the stages effortlessly, attached to a single strap harness just in case.
NFL posted the full performance online. Though it won't embed here, you can see it by clicking Watch on YouTube below.
The medley included smash hits like "Bitch, Better Have My Money," "Only Girl in the World," "We Found Love," "Rude Boy," "Umbrella" and a climax high in the sky for "Diamonds."
Perhaps the second biggest surprise of the whole show was what didn't happen. Rihanna has a huge catalog of hits all to herself, but she's also been one of the most successful collaborators in the industry.
There were so many opportunities for some of the artists she's worked with like Jay-Z or Eminem to join her for a few beats, but this performance was all Rihanna from start to finish. She let the music speak for itself with hit after hit after hit.
The biggest surprise of the night was the collaborator who did join her on stage ... that bump! Fans began speculating as soon as she hit the stage, with her rep confirming Rihanna is pregnant with her second baby following the performance. She and A$AP Rocky welcomed their first child in May 2022.
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Even ASAP Rocky, with one of the best seats in the house, was mesmerized by the performance. Social media lit up as her celebrity fans and everyone else jumped online to weigh in on the joy of seeing Rihanna back in form as the superstar musician she is.
There was a small contingency of those online used to the over-the-top spectacle that most Super Bowl Halftime Shows give who found themselves disappointed and frustrated that she had no surprise guests or even a costume change. But this was a very small minority, quickly drowned out by all those heaping accolades.
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View StoryA few noticed the very clear moment that she paused the show to check her makeup with the assist of a dancer, seeing it as a promotional plug for her own Fenty Beauty line.
Her performance was so dominant, she trended in the top two spots on Twitter. That's impressive, but also kind of funny because trending at number two just beneath her name is a misspelling of her name, Rhianna.
Also trending were Rih Rih, Diamonds, Pon de Replay, and Disturbia.
Just following the performance, Rihanna's ex Chris Brown seemingly reacted by posting "GO GIRL," along with both a heart and prayer hands emojis to his Instagram Story.
When it comes to big names reacting to the halftime show, most were squarely on the "She was great" side of the fence -- though both Donald Trump and comedian/MTV star Theo Von had some criticism. Trump called it an "EPIC FAIL" and "the single worst Halftime Show in Super Bowl history" while also slamming her "stylist."
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Bethenny Frankel also made headlines Monday for saying the performance was "good not great," before praising her for using the spotlight to highlight her Fenty beauty brand.
Check out some of the best the celebrity reactions to Rihanna's dominant set below:
Halftime show felt basic. No spec guests? No collab? 😴 pic.twitter.com/Fhht7tKpuy
— Theo Von (@TheoVon) February 13, 2023 @TheoVon
RiRi🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🏈
— Priah Ferguson (@priahferguson) February 13, 2023 @priahferguson
I feel like I’m watching a Halftime show in the Blade Runner Universe and I love it!!!
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 13, 2023 @joshgad
GODDESS. #HalftimeShow
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) February 13, 2023 @Alyssa_Milano
UNBELIEVABLE!! 🤯 #Rhianna
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) February 13, 2023 @Andy
Legit #Rihanna is everything 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
— Eva Marie (@natalieevamarie) February 13, 2023 @natalieevamarie
She rushed umbrella! Dont be bored by your own songs!! #zzzquil #SuperBowl
— David Spade (@DavidSpade) February 13, 2023 @DavidSpade
I don’t even care who wins anymore. That was INCREDIBLE #SuperBowl
— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) February 13, 2023 @EllenDeGeneres
Unfuckwittable* lol sorry I was in it
— SZA (@sza) February 13, 2023 @sza
the real flex here is her having so many bangers that each song only gets ~50 sec
— papa fish (@jordanfisher) February 13, 2023 @jordanfisher
Extraordinary half time performance by @rihanna! What a medley of hits #SuperBowl
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) February 13, 2023 @mariashriver
WOW! #RIHANNA WHAT BALLS!! That was fantastic!! Thank you to ever who made that spectacular 1/2 Time Show JUST FANTASTIC! How did they do that??
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) February 13, 2023 @BetteMidler
Rihanna: “I don’t need your fucking cameos.”
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) February 13, 2023 @StephenAmell
Okay. @rihanna DID THAT SHIT! I don’t even have words for epic that was and WHILE SHE IS PREGNANT?!!! I gotta up my game and work harder AND smarter! UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE
— michelle visage (@michellevisage) February 13, 2023 @michellevisage
Love me some @rihanna. She’s such a G she didn’t need any guest performers. Hits on top of hits!#Bravo
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) February 13, 2023 @mariolopezviva
yes rih❤️❤️😍!!!!!!
— Halle (@HalleBailey) February 13, 2023 @HalleBailey
Was she not attached to anything?? How!? Wut!? Amazed by #Rihanna
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) February 13, 2023 @ElizabethBanks
Rihanna was nothing short of amazing!! 🔥🔥🔥
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 13, 2023 @MagicJohnson
Rihanna 🤯😍🤩
— Joey McIntyre (@joeymcintyre) February 13, 2023 @joeymcintyre
Queen.
She checked her make-up…Dead.
A #SuperBowlHalftimeShow for the books. Tops in mine!!
Classic. Brilliant. And fun.
Below are more viral tweets about her performance:
Describe the #SuperBowl halftime with #Rihanna in one word pic.twitter.com/SRpDuVQeOc
— ☄️✨ Helenna Rossa ✨☄️ (@HelennaRossa) February 13, 2023 @HelennaRossa
Rihanna is literally a billionaire from selling panties and face paint. Y’all thought she was going to come out doing cartwheels with a baby…this is her extra-curricular activity now.
— Kalen Allen (@TheKalenAllen) February 13, 2023 @TheKalenAllen
Rihanna didn’t need gimmicks or guests to deliver a top notch #HalftimeShow — she gave us the hits, some unexpected song choices, fashion, choreo… and she hasn’t performed live in YEARS! Haters take a number.
— Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) February 13, 2023 @gibsonoma
Rihanna reading your tweets about her performance that she gave while pregnant & then sees she’s right not to give you lot another album.
— Jennifer Opal (@_jenniferopal) February 13, 2023 @_jenniferopal
pic.twitter.com/zBpl5coN9R
What I don't wanna hear, and def not from ANY MAN was that Rihanna didn't do enough during her #Superbowl performance. Y'all get a cold and you'll think the Bubonic Plague got you. This woman is pregnant, performed and danced for 13 mins while suspended in the air. You can STFU😒
— Luvvie (@Luvvie) February 13, 2023 @Luvvie
Watching Rihanna perform Umbrella pic.twitter.com/mmJdIdCvb1
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 13, 2023 @ComplexSports
Rihanna was awesome at the Super Bowl Halftime show. See the video for yourself.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 13, 2023 @tedlieu
Donald Trump is watching America and progress pass him by. He can’t stop change and lashes out, mostly at minorities. Also, Trump doesn’t know how to dance to Rihanna songs.#mondaythoughts https://t.co/G16bwrRhGf
rihanna’s baby in the womb last night
— E (@trezekid) February 13, 2023 @trezekid
pic.twitter.com/jJ9sYuo6Xk