Rihanna addresses ‘scary responsibility’ of Super Bowl halftime show after Colin Kaepernick's protest

Rihanna's journey to the Super Bowl halftime show was more than just a simple 'yes.'

The singer considered countless challenges before agreeing, some of which had to do with her children and her heritage. She was first invited by the NFL back in 2018, which didn't fall into place due to her support for Colin Kaepernick's protests.

Kaepernick stirred up a storm for kneeling during the national anthem before a game in 2016. Though Kaepernick is still out of the league, various celebrities and athletes have come together to support the former QB.

Back then, the "Umbrella" singer had declined. She saw it as not being a sellout, especially when she did not agree with things within the NFL.

In a recent conversation with Vogue, Rihanna explained what changed her mind and the responsibility of raising a young black man in the US.

“There’s still a lot of mending to be done in my eyes. But it’s powerful to break those doors, and have representation at such a high, high level and a consistent level.”

After all, representing the community globally is 'powerful' as it does send a strong message. The superstar went on to say:

“Of course, raising a young black man is one of the scariest responsibilities in life. You’re like, ‘What am I leaving my kids to? This is the planet they’re gonna be living on?’ All of those things really start to hit differently."

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Rihanna's pregnancy was a surprise for fans (and the singer)

When the Barbadian icon accepted the Super Bowl offer, she herself wasn't expecting to perform while pregnant. The "Queen of Pop" and A$AP Rocky welcomed their firstborn last may.

Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show

During the performance, Rihanna's baby bump was visible and highlighted by her red outfit. After the show wrapped up, a representative confirmed her pregnancy. The performance was highly anticipated, especially after a seven-year hiatus from the live stage.

“It’s this knowing that you can do anything,” she explained, “even things that seem the craziest, like, ‘I’m going to say yes to the Super Bowl in the middle of postpartum?’"

But she isn't one to back down from a challenge. Motivated and looking forward to performing for fans again, the 34-year-old re-evaluated her initial rejection from 2018. Of course, the NFL and society have seen some substantial changes over the past few years, which played a part in her decision.

With her pregnancy, the Super Bowl performance might also be Rihanna's final performance for some time.