SUPER BOWL

Rihanna Was the Lone Voice of Reason During the Super Bowl

She was not amused by those who wanted to tune in on Sunday.


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There’s been no shortage of controversy surrounding the 53rd Super Bowl—none of which has escaped Rihanna. Unsurprisingly, she remained completely unfazed by the game on Sunday night, which she did not spend camped out in front of a TV but rather hiding behind a pair of giant sunglasses on an airplane.

But, much to Rihanna’s displeasure, the Super Bowl proved just as unavoidable midair as it was on the ground. It wasn’t long before she posted a video of herself on her Instagram stories, blithely chewing gum and looking thoroughly unamused before shooting scathing looks and pursing her lips in what she explained in the caption was her reaction to a fellow passenger asking, “How can we watch the Super Bowl on the flight?”

Always true to her Instagram bio, “Throwing all the shade!,” Rihanna continued to document her displeasure with the passenger’s question, which apparently persisted, proceeding to post another video not only zooming in on the offender but also crowning them with a banner that read “WEIRDO.” As explanation for her cyber-bullying, she posted an illustration of Colin Kaepernick, reminding her followers that, this year, watching the Super Bowl had more significance than simply watching a game. It also meant meant a tacit approval of the NFL, which exiled Kaepernick for silently and peacefully protesting America’s oppression of people of color by taking a knee on the field in 2016.

Rihanna’s Instagram Story about the Super Bowl and Colin Kaepernick.

Courtesy of @badgalriri

Rihanna, on the other hand, has steadfastly stood in solidarity with Kaepernick—to the point that she, like Cardi B, declined to headline this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. And she wasn’t the only one to advocate not tuning in to this year’s game: Ava DuVernay also stood with Kaepernick on Sunday night, tweeting, “I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap.”

They didn’t miss out on much: The game, which saw Donald Trump’s favorite team once again go on to victory, was the lowest-scored in NFL history and the lowest rated Super Bowl in 10 years. The most entertaining part of the entire spectacle? Probably Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine wearing a tank top that looked like sofa upholstery—and, of course the ensuing memes.

Related: Adam Levine Memes Were the Best Part of Super Bowl LIII

12 Celebrities Who Should Probably Re-Think Their Allegiance to the New England Patriots, Donald Trump’s Favorite Football Team

If you looked up the definition of “diehard,” Ben Affleck’s photo would be right next to it. Being one of Boston’s unofficial mascots, Affleck is one of the Patriots’ biggest celebrity supporters. He even went on a rant defending Brady during the “Deflategate” controversy in 2016.

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Massachusetts native Mindy Kaling tweeted about how the New England Patriots going to the Super Bowl was tearing her house appart: “Me cheering for the Pats, my daughter cheering on the Rams, my household in upheaval!!”

Photo by @mindykaling.

Matt Damon is so proud of his status as a Patriots fan (and as Ben Affleck’s bestie) that he at least knows how to have some good fun with it, and appeared in a 2015 sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live in which he addressed the Deflategate controversy.

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For Lea Michele, a proud Brady fan, Super Bowl LI was the “BEST. DAY. EVER!!!”.

Photo by @LeaMichele.

Perhaps the most disappointing of them all is Chris Evans, a celebrity whose politics align with the left, but whose fandom aligns with the team that Donald Trump—a noted enemy of Evans—has selected to root for in the Super Bowl. Yes, even our very own Captain America has betrayed us.

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Elizabeth Banks, another Massachusetts native and self-proclaimed “Masshole for life”, has been rooting for the patriots for years. In 2017 she showed up to the game to watch the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons. She’ll be rooting for the Patriots again this year, according to her Twitter.

Photo by @ElizabethBanks.

Sir Elton John was once Captain Elton John, when he served as the honorary team captain of the Patriots in 2009.

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The New Jersey icon is actually a hardcore Patriots fan and even lent one of Bon Jovi’s songs, “This Is Our House,” for the team to play at their games.

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Another famous Bostonian makes for another famous Patriots fan, but which team is Emily Blunt rooting for?

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Even though Mark Wahlberg portrayed Philadelphia Eagles player Vince Papale in the 2006 film Invincible, he stands with the Patriots. He’s also a Celtics fan. What else would you expect from a guy from Dorchester?

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Justin Timberlake has not had the best of luck with Super Bowl related drama but he went for it anyway and announced via Twitter last year that he was a Patriots fan (or at least a fan of Brady).

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Aside from sending Brady the infamous “Make America Great Again” hat nearly three years ago, Trump has recently expressed his feelings about the Patriots on Twitter by saying: “Congratulations to Bob Kraft, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the entire New England Patriots team on a great game and season. Will be a fantastic Super Bowl!”

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