Adele will be cheering on Rihanna from the sidelines during the pop star’s highly anticipated halftime show at the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona on Feb. 12.
“I’m only going for Rihanna. “I don’t give a flying f-k,” the “Easy On Me” singer, 34, told a fan Friday during one of her Las Vegas residency shows at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum.
Adele and Rihanna, both 34, have been friends for years, so it’s no surprise that the “Hello” singer will back her friend.
Adele wrote an essay about the “Umbrella” singer for Time 100 in 2018, saying, “The progression of her superstardom feels steady, well deserved, and extremely natural.”
“Even more, she has designed and conquered an entire lane of her own,” she added at the time. Rihanna’s innovative and groundbreaking world, which no one else can ever be safe in and get away with copying. She makes her own rules while breaking ours.”
Adele continued, “She’s fearless and full of all the right kind of attitude to be everything that she is and will be forever.”
Although Adele will only be attending the Super Bowl as a guest, her name has been mentioned as a possible halftime performer several times in the past.
.@Adele about attending next Sunday’s #SuperBowl :
“I’m going just for Rihanna, I don’t give a freaking flying f*ck”#SuperBowlLVII #WeekendsWithAdele pic.twitter.com/fBYvyFIlIA
— Adele Global (@AdeleGlobaI) February 4, 2023
Madonna revealed in 2012 that she wanted the “Rumor Has It” singer to join her onstage for her own halftime show, which also included Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green, and LMFAO.
“I wanted her to be there with me in the Super Bowl,” the “Like a Virgin” singer said at the time. “But I believe she was having a throat problem or surgery or something.”
Years later, Adele revealed that she had turned down the opportunity to host the halftime show herself.
“First and foremost, I’m not doing the Super Bowl,” the “Someone Like You” singer said in 2017 at a concert in Los Angeles.
“Come on, that show isn’t about music. And I can’t really — I can’t dance or anything. They were very nice to ask me, but I declined.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but maybe next time.”
Rihanna, like Adele, previously declined the NFL’s request to perform at the Super Bowl due to the NFL’s controversial treatment of Colin Kaepernick.
However, the “Diamonds” singer has since changed her mind about appearing on the show, stating that she is “nervous, but excited” about her upcoming performance.
