Rihanna shocked her fans Sept. 25 by posting a photo of her holding a football on Instagram and Twitter announcing herself as the headline of the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show.

After declining to be a part of the Super Bowl halftime show in 2018 due to the NFL’s controversy at the time, many are wondering why she agreed now.

“I think she is doing this so she can be in the spotlight again or for promotion for a new album,” junior Elanie Mundo said.

Rihanna’s last concert was Feb. 27, 2019 and she hasn’t released any albums since Jan, 28, 2016. She instead shifted her focus to her Fenty Beauty makeup and skincare brand as well as her clothing brand Savage X Fenty. However, she was spotted heading to a recording studio the day after revealing her headlining, so there has been speculation of big things coming which will hopefully bring down backlash she’s received for not putting her center of attention on music.

“I think Rihanna shouldn’t be playing in the Super Bowl because I’m not a big fan of her music,” senior Samantha Domnanish said. “Megan Thee Stallion should play; it would be more interesting and more people would actually watch.”

Twitter is making the most of this announcement and quickly had the topic trending. Plenty of memes have circulated about the “Rihanna drought,” Rihanna forgetting lyrics during the Super Bowl after a seven year hiatus, and all the things she will be announcing other than music on Feb 12.

“I disagree with everyone else. I think this would be an amazing opportunity to come back from hiatus,” senior Isidore Espina said. “Rihanna is also iconic so I believe she’ll eat up this performance.”