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Rihanna stands up for Colin Kaepernick, NFL protest

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Rihanna (269862)
Rihanna

Rihanna turned down the offer of a Super Bowl performance to show support of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has essentially been exiled from the National Football League after his “taking a knee” during the National Anthem, according to a report in Us Weekly.

Reps for the singer and the National Football League had not responded to requests for comment at press time, although a source confirmed the report to Variety. “The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta,” the publication cited an unnamed “insider” as saying. “They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.”

Kaepernick, who once admitted to having a crush on Rihanna, was the first NFL player to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality. The athlete has not played professionally since the controversy arose during the 2016 season. He filed a grievance against the league and team owners last year, accusing them of colluding to keep him off the field. Adam Levine and his group Maroon 5 will take the stage at the Super Bowl halftime in Atlanta on Feb. 3, with the possibility that rapper Cardi B will also participate.

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