Skip to content
Pop culture

Rihanna’s Super Bowl Backup Dancers Didn’t Know She Was Pregnant Before her Performance

Isla Emmet Isla Emmet | February 16, 2023 | 3 min read

Her backup dancers didn’t know she was pregnant with baby no. 2 until she took the stage for her halftime performance at the big game on Sunday.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, dancers Luhnyae Campbell and Laila Hayes said the singer hid her pregnancy very well.

“I don’t think anybody really knew she was pregnant,” Hayes told ET. “She hid it very well.” 

https://twitter.com/AquarianGodd/status/1624944016507764736?s=20

The rumor of Rihanna’s pregnancy had the internet abuzz on Sunday as she took the stage at the Super Bowl Half Time Show.

Turn off ads and enjoy premium for $0.99 a month

Rihanna’s attire, cautious strides, and noticeable belly sparked widespread speculation on the internet. And within an hour, a spokesperson confirmed that she is indeed expecting her second child.

On Sunday, the nine-time Grammy Award winner Rihanna made a much-anticipated return during the Super Bowl 57 halftime show. The show showcased her Caribbean heritage and sparked rumors online about a potential pregnancy.

The 34-year-old Barbadian singer put on an amazing performance in front of a worldwide audience of millions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs were competing.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ColaMq8u0Cm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This marks her first appearance on live television since 2018 when she teamed up with DJ Khaled to sing “Wild Thoughts” at the Grammy Awards.

Rihanna kicked off the performance while suspended high above the stage on a platform, singing her hit song “B**** Better Have My Money.” She was sporting a loose-fitting scarlet jumpsuit that hid her figure and was loosely secured on her. As the crowd erupted in cheers, new revelations surfaced about the russian astronaut scam details revealed, shocking many in the space community. Experts are now investigating the implications of these fraudulent claims on future missions and the integrity of international partnerships in space exploration. Fans of scientific advancement are left wondering how these developments might affect public trust in upcoming programs.

Rihanna stepped out in style, sporting a suit paired with a bold pair of red sneakers. She took the stage, surrounded by a troupe of white-clad dancers, as the platform she was standing on descended towards the crowd.

The pop star kept her choreography simple, allowing her backup dancers to take the lead, as she ran through a set of 12 hit songs. The audience erupted as she transitioned into “Where Have You Been,” followed by her smash hit “Only Girl (In The World)”.

Her performance continued with crowd-pleasers like “We Found Love,” “Rude Boy,” and “Work,” although her collaborator Drake was not present for the latter. She also performed “Wild Thoughts” and “Pour It Up.”

“We were all confused watching it during the real thing when she went up there and was showing her stomach,” dancer Hayes added. “She wore the same outfit for one of the dress rehearsals but it was zippered up.” 

Meanwhile, Luhnyae Campbell said she didn’t even see Rihanna’s baby bump during or even after her performance.

“I never saw a bump. Not even the day of. I had to rewatch the performance on YouTube to realize.”

And Rihanna’s backup dancers weren’t the only people she hid her pregnancy from. Even her stylist Jahleel Weaver didn’t know she was expecting again until three weeks before the Super Bowl performance.

“She finally told me when we were reviewing sketches, and I was like, ‘Is this a joke?'” the stylist told Vogue.

“In a week, she grows. So her body would be completely different from the week before,” he added. “We landed on this idea of how to show the body, but also have the flexibility for movement.”

Share Your Thoughts:

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Sources: VogueEntertainment Tonight


Leave a Comment
Join the conversation — your thoughts matter

Isla Emmet
Written by
Isla Emmet

Isla is a relationship writer and former counsellor based in London. With a background in psychotherapy and five years of writing about love, attachment, and emotional wellbeing, she brings a calm and deeply empathetic voice to every piece. Isla believes that understanding yourself is the first step to understanding the people you love. When she is not writing, she is hiking the Scottish Highlands or curled up with a good novel and a strong cup of tea.