The tally is in, and Rihanna’s halftime show reached a total of 118.7 million viewers. The news was announced in a tweet late Monday evening by the Fox Sports public relations account.
⭐️ SHINE BRIGHT ⭐️
Sunday's #SBLVII #AppleMusicHalftime show featuring #Rihanna delivered 118.7 million viewers. pic.twitter.com/VCCccEWWAW
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) February 13, 2023
This increase in viewership makes it the second most-watched Super Bowl game of all time, just behind the 2015 game, which achieved 114.4 million viewers. Rihanna’s performance surprised Katy Perry’s halftime show with 114.4 million viewers, which was also in 2015.
Rihanna’s appearance during halftime of Super Bowl LVII launched a reported 10 million Google GOOG +0.1% searches as curious viewers clamored to find out if the megastar is pregnant (she is), making her performance on that floating stage all the more impressive.
SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM LAST YEAR’S HALF TIME SHOW
But she didn’t prove as big a draw as last year’s Super Bowl halftime performers, led by Dr. Dre. Early numbers from Samba TV, a TV technology company that provides real-time analytics, found that Rihanna’s audience was slightly smaller than last year.
About 28.5 million households tuned in to the Barbadian singer’s performance Sunday evening, compared to 28.7 million who watched Dre and an all-star supporting cast during last year’s show.
The smaller audience is a bit surprise in light of early numbers for the big game. It appears to be up versus last year, with 36.7 million households viewing the contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. That’s up from 36.5 million the previous year.
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The poll on WorldWide Entertainment TV has the majority saying the Barbadian pop star had the greatest performance of all time aka goat at the Superbowl. Vote still with your thoughts on the halftime show presented by the “Umbrella” artist.
The superstar said on Feb. 8 that she had 39 different potential setlists for this Sunday’s performance, certainly lending to endless possibilities when she hits the stage.
Rihanna saw some veritable boosts to her platform following the Super Bowl 57 halftime show:
Rihanna wasn't paid by the NFL for this year's Super Bowl halftime show.
But she has already gained 1.5 million Instagram followers in less than 24 hours, and searches for Fenty Beauty are up 833%.
That's in addition to her multi-million dollar documentary deal with Apple TV+. pic.twitter.com/xUtSBICSO1
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 13, 2023
What a beautiful tribute @rihanna did to the late, great ambassador of couture fashion & @vogue Editor-at-Large Andre Talley —paying homage to his iconic oversized red coat. #Sb57 pic.twitter.com/rEtaIxOqbl
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 13, 2023
Watching Rihanna perform Umbrella pic.twitter.com/mmJdIdCvb1
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 13, 2023
