Rihanna's Back-Up Dancers Didn't Know She Was Pregnant: Report

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Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Rihanna performs during Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Rihanna kept baggy clothes on throughout her rehearsals to hide her baby bump from everyone involved in her Super Bowl performance.

As fans tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles face off for the Lombardi Trophy, there was undoubtedly a slew of people who only wanted to catch Rihanna’s performance. She dove into a 13-minute set that managed to condense a 17-year career. Draped in a red jumper, and surrounded by a fleet of backup dancers, Rihanna gave fans a performance to remember. Not only due to her impeccable catalog but also, the fact that she revealed her pregnancy on the biggest stage in America.

Over the years, Rihanna faced several rumors surrounding her pregnancy. Last year, she welcomed her first child and provided an epic reveal alongside A$AP Rocky in a Harlem-themed maternity shoot. However, there were even rumors of her pregnancy prior to that. Somehow, she managed to keep the speculation surrounding baby #2 under wraps, even after numerous public appearances in the past several months. In fact, she did such a good job at keeping it a secret, even those working closely with her for the halftime show had no clue that she was expecting.

Rihanna Hid Her Pregnancy From Back-Up Dancers 

According to TMZ, Rihanna hid her pregnancy from roughly 280 backup dancers during rehearsals. Though the pregnancy reveal played a huge part in the show itself, Rih disguised the baby bump by rocking baggy clothes. Sources close to the publication explained that at Saturday and Sunday’s rehearsals, Rih wore loose clothing to prevent anyone from finding out she was pregnant. That is until she hit the stage for her performance at the halftime show and revealed her belly. 

Those involved with the production reportedly only saw the baby bump when they were about to hit the stage. Rih rocked an outfit that seemingly helped reveal her pregnancy clearly. It’s impressive, especially when she’s made numerous public appearances in recent months. Last week, she appeared at a rare press conference where she discussed the performance at length. Prior to that, she appeared at the Golden Globes with A$AP Rocky. Looking back, both of her fits helped disguise her belly. At the Golden Globes, she donned a loose dress while carrying a purse in front of her belly. Ultimately, Rihanna accomplished revealing her pregnancy without anyone leaking the information to the press.

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About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.