Rihanna, In New Cover Story With Son, Explains Why She Did The Super Bowl Despite Declining 2018 Event In Solidarity With Kaepernick

The trio are gracefully pictured on a beach, with A$AP carrying his baby in one arm and giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead while also holding Rihanna with the other hand as she strolls along the sand.

A$AP shows off his dad swag in an all black leather vest and pants. Rihanna also poses elegantly in a black lace dress with a high slit. Meanwhile, their baby boy is showing off his beaming smile while wearing black bottoms.

A new era begins – and for @Rihanna nothing will ever be the same. Fresh from the Super Bowl and that very special announcement, Rihanna is British Vogue’s phenomenal March 2023 cover star – but this is no ordinary cover. This is a family portrait: https://t.co/dYosr4a6Ah pic.twitter.com/xx4h7LisKU

— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) February 15, 2023

Rihanna is also photographed on a couch with her hair intentionally tousled. The adorable photo captures Rihanna staring into the camera while holding her son, who is also gazing straight ahead as he is wrapped in a white blanket.

In her interview with British Vogue, Rihanna explained why she accepted the NFL’s invitation to perform at the Super Bowl. In 2018, the 34-year-old superstar turned down the NFL’s invitation. At that time, Rihanna decided to stand in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who took a stance against racial injustice by taking knee while The Star-Spangled Banner was sung at a game in 2016.

“There’s still a lot of mending to be done in my eyes,” Rihanna told British Vogue.

But she also adds that it’s important to have representation on a large platform such as the Super Bowl.

“It’s powerful to break those doors, and have representation at such a high, high level and a consistent level,” she said.

Rihanna, who is now expecting her second child, also spoke about her motherhood, saying the latest chapter in her life has given her the confidence to do anything. Of course, she didn’t know she was pregnant when she first committed to the Super Bowl.

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

The “Umbrella” singer still can’t believe that she agreed to perform at the Super Bowl.

“You’re geeked on a challenge like that because you know what your body just did. You feel this sense of ‘Nothing is impossible,’” she said.

The interview also included talk of the fan-favorite Anti album and how it is hard to release something behind that.

She said, “When you come off of an album like Anti… in hindsight, it really is my most brilliant album. I say that because in the moment, I didn’t realize it. But it always felt like the most cohesive album I’ve ever made. When you break it down and you realize this album goes from ‘Work’ to ‘Kiss It Better’ to ‘Needed Me’ to ‘Love on the Brain’ to ‘Sex with Me’ to ‘Desperado.’ And somehow it all fits and not for a second did you glitch? It’s like a DJ’s worst nightmare. But there’s this pressure that I put on myself. That if it’s not better than that then it is not even worth it.

And on her long-awaited ninth studio album, Rihanna said, “I want it to be this year,” but as stated before, said this without the knowledge of her pregnancy.

“Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year. But I just want to have fun…I just want to make music and make videos,” she continued, adding that she misses music videos. “And I need the right background music with the visuals. I can’t just go shoot a video to me talking.”