(AllHipHop News) Rihanna can twerk with the best of them, but still can not shake the domestic abuse victim label. Yesterday (September 11th), CBS decided to remove the Rihanna-featured “Run This Town” song from the opening credits Thursday Night Football.
Earlier this year, CBS paid $200 million for the rights to air eight Thursday Night Football games this season and last night’s Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers matchup was its first game. The original opening was to be Don Cheadle doing a voiceover on the Rihanna-assisted “Run This Town” due to the recent developments in the Ray Rice domestic violence controversy.
In an interview with SI.com, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus explained how the decision ultimately came down to journalistic ethics:
We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage. A lot of the production elements we wanted in the show are being eliminated.
This is second incident in the past week where CBS has altered a performance from an R&B and Hip Hop artist. On Tuesday (September 9th) and Wednesday (September 10th), Nicki Minaj sent disparaging remarks towards CBS on her personal Instagram and Twitter account about the manner in which they edited her performance on Fashion Rocks Tuesday. In her Instagram message, Nicki accused CBS of being “people who care nothing about our art and creativity””:
My darlingz, I wish you could’ve seen the choreography on the 2nd verse of ANACONDA last night It was absolutely divine. CBS decided not to show it. Had they told us this before, we would have changed the choreo so that you guys could see the full performance from beginning to end. They already had you tuned in tho. Artists spend so much of their own money, time and passion to deliver their fans great performances. But ultimately, our art usually falls into the hands of people who care nothing about our art and creativity. Promise you’ll get to see this new choreo soon. Love uuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!! 11.24 ~ The Pinkprint
Check out Nicki Minaj’s performance of “Anaconda” at Fashion Rocks Tuesday below:
