Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show and announcement is breaking the internet

Rihanna's super bowl halftime show was iconic for multiple reasons.
 By 
Chance Townsend
 on 
Rihanna performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona
Credit: Gregory Shamus via Getty

Rihanna's highly-anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday night was met with a mix of excitement and praise from fans and stans across the internet. From passionate praise of the pop star's energy and showmanship to poking fun at the excellent set design, the performance sparked a range of emotions across social media.

Rihanna's 15-minute set featured classic songs across the singer's discography including “Where Have You Been”, “Only Girl in the World”, “We Found Love”, “Rude Boy”, “Work”, “Wild Wild”, “Blow it Up”, “All of the Lights”, “Run this Town”, “Umbrella” and “Diamonds”.

Before the halftime show even began

As Mashable covered earlier this week, many have speculated or tried to predict Rihanna's setlist or even how'd she come out on Sunday. Many fans have even expressed that if the show didn't start with "Pon de Replay" then the performance would already be a bust.


You May Also Like

What an opener

At +1100 odds in Vegas, Riri decided to bless the Superbowl with "Bitch Better Have My Money" to start the halftime. From the setlist of classic Rihanna songs to the set design to that AMAZING red coat, this year's halftime show was a spectacle and social media agrees.

Super Smash Bros set design

Some users have pointed out the excellent set design and that it bears a similar resemblance to certain fan-favorite Nintendo video game series.

The biggest reveal of the night

The biggest surprise of the performance may have been the announcement of Rihanna's second pregnancy. The appearance of a baby bump had some speculating that may be the case and they were right. And it may have broken the internet...more so than the first time. Everyone is happy for Rihanna but most are mad at the father of her children, rapper A$AP Rocky.

Headshot of a Black man
Chance Townsend
Assistant Editor, General Assignments

Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.

In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Jon Stewart hits back at MAGA's reaction to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show
A man in a suit sits behind a talk show desk. In the top left is a screenshot of a Truth Social post.

Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Easter eggs: 15 things you might have missed
Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl


Every song in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show setlist
Bad Bunny performing at Super Bowl LX

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show stuns the internet
Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!