Walt Disney Celebrates 100 Years Of “Storytelling And Innovation” With Super Bowl Commercial

Dominique Fluker In 2003 Queen Latifah was the first female hip-hop artist nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actress for her role in “Chicago.” Although she received a nod from the Academy, Black representation in the awards race was limited that year. The same year, the (AAFCA) African American Film Critics Assn. emerged. Co-founded by Gil L. Robertson, Daryle Lockhart, Kathy Williamson, and Kevin “Chill” Heard, the organization’s purpose was clear: to amplify Black voices in film criticism and arts entertainment journalism from across the African Diaspora. Today, the AAFCA actively reviews and spotlights cinema at large, with a particular emphasis on film and TV highlighting the Black experience. The association’s members are also engaged in AAFCA’s advocacy work, which includes programming for students interested in film criticism and journalism and general community outreach. 

Not everyone loved Rihanna’s Halftime Show.

Rihanna will perform at the 95th Academy Awards next month, it has been announced.The pop superstar will perform her Oscar-nominated song Lift Me Up, written for Marvel’s blockbuster sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.The song picked up a nod for best original song, alongside Lady Gaga’s Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick, and is Rihanna’s first Oscar nomination. Hosted by US comedian Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars is set to take place on March 12.The Academy will be announcing more talent participating in the show in the coming weeks.

Rihanna‘s Super Bowl Halftime performance.The pop sensation performed a career-spanning set in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday (February 12), her first live performance in five years.The singer kicked off with ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’ before she performed a host of hits including ‘Where Have You Been’, ‘We Found Love’, ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Diamonds’.Signing the show was 20-year-old Justina Miles, a deaf American Sign Language performer, who also signed the pre-show performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, sung by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.During the performance, Miles – who is the first female deaf performer to be enlisted for the Super Bowl show – could be seen enthusiastically dancing and signing along to Rihanna’s biggest hits.“Rihanna’s sign language interpreter deserves a raise she was giving it her all,” one Twitter user wrote. Another person said Miles “phenomenally absorbed all of the Rihanna energy.”“The sign language interpreter ate that UPP,” a third said.

As far as celebrity pregnancy announcements go, Rihanna might have just topped it. Moments before performing her mega mix of hits at Sunday’s Super Bowl, RiRi, 34, revealed that she is pregnant with her second child.The Diamonds singer had made hints that she’d be bringing someone along with her after five years off stage. Nine months after the birth of her first son who she shares with A$AP Rocky, fans speculated that it could be a guest spot from Jay-Z, Drake or Eminem.

Rihanna was the only pop girl in the world that anyone was talking about over the weekend - and, it turns out, for very good reason.

Thania Garcia Rihanna made a prideful return to the stage at the Super Bowl Halftime show on Feb. 12 with her first solo performance in seven years. The megastar delivered a spellbinding set as she floated over the football field and zoomed through a dazzling set list that ranged from radio hits like the unapologetic “Diamonds” to her hooky “Work,” and unsurprisingly, the performance has led to significant increases in streaming and Rihanna-related searches. In fact, ever since Rihanna was announced as the halftime performer last September, three of her songs (“Umbrella,” “We Found Love” and “Love on the Brain”) crossed over a billion plays on Spotify. The streaming platform ramped up listeners and heightened anticipation in the days leading up to the big game by promoting the Halftime performer’s “This is Rihanna” playlist, a megamix containing her most beloved hits.

Rihanna’s return after seven years away from a stage.

Sheryl Lee Ralph is responding to speculation that she lip-synced while performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” just before kickoff at the 2023 Super Bowl.

according to CNBC.The youngster is already highly accomplished, having been part of the USA team that went to the 2021-2022 Deaflympics in Brazil, where she won a silver medal as part of the 4×100 women’s track relay team. She was also the valedictorian at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, DC, according to the National Association of the Deaf.the sign language interpreter is not fking around pic.twitter.com/zezhJ0QTsI“I value the opportunity to make it possible for all deaf people to enjoy these songs, and not have them miss out on the full Super Bowl experience,” Miles told CNBC’s “Make It” prior to the Super Bowl.“(It’s) not only for me to share this experience with the whole world, but to really bring that empowerment to millions and millions of black deaf people all over the country who’ve never really seen that before.

performed live for the first time in years at Sunday night’s Super Bowl halftime show. But no one was more supportive of Rihanna than her , who was well-equipped with a working phone to document the whole thing, as if no one else was doing that with perhaps better gear. During the performance, she sang and (barely) danced to some of her hits over the past two decades, including “Bitch Better Have My Money,” “Rude Boy,” “Umbrella,” and “Diamonds.” Unfortunately for me, she left out “Disturbia,” which I will get over one day.The NFL shared a video of A$AP’s devotion to .

Babyface serenaded the crowd inside the State Farm Stadium and viewers around the world with «America the Beautiful» ahead of kickoff at Sunday's Super Bowl. The musician sang a stripped-down version of the song while accompanying himself on a guitar, which was emblazoned with the American flag. «I'm glad I'm done,» he later told ET's Kevin Frazier.

Shining bright like a diamond!

Rihanna wasn’t the only one making history during Apple Music’s Super Bowl Halftime show. American sign language (ASL) interpreter Justina Miles gave a historic performance that went viral, fully embracing RiRi’s setlist of hits as she danced and signed for deaf viewers.

Adele‘s shushing people around her at the Super Bowl last night as she waited for Rihanna‘s halftime show has thoroughly amused the Internet, inspiring a trending meme.The singer had previously said that she was going to the American football game, telling a fan at a recent Las Vegas show: “I’m only going for Rihanna. I don’t give a flying fuck.”Now, clips of her getting people to quieten down because Rihanna was about to arrive on stage while watching the game have circulated online.

Super Bowl 2023 commercial featuring spheres in the sky.“An unidentified object has been spotted over the skies,” the ad proclaimed. While the commercial is advertising “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere” — a series of concerts that marks the band’s first live shows in four years — many on social media were quick to point out the similarities to the Chinese spy balloon that has been making headlines.“Did you guys make this commercial before last week?” one person asked.“Read the room.

Rihanna wasn't the only one making history during Apple Music's Super Bowl Halftime show. American sign language (ASL) interpreter Justina Miles gave a historic performance that went viral, fully embracing RiRi's setlist of hits as she danced and signed for deaf viewers. Miles became the first deaf female performer to sign at the Super Bowl's halftime show. The 20-year-old also signed during the pre-show’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which was performed by star Sheryl Lee Ralph.

anticipation for Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show — midway through the big game, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35 — was ratcheted up so high simply because the 34-year-old singer is practically coming out of semi-retirement as a performer.This was a moment that the Navy — as Rihanna’s fans are known — has been waiting for, even if it happened in a surprise club cameo downtown at S.O.B.’s.Instead, that comeback performance happened on the biggest of all stages at State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona. And the superstar delivered the biggest of surprises — not with any guest performers, but with the revelation that her second child is on the way.

Fox charged up to $7 million for a 30-second slotand big brands splashed the cash in the hopes of creating TV gold. But while a captivating commercial can be an invaluable investment, it’s hard to pull off given that around 100 million Americans are watching critically and closely.

Jordin Sparks is applauding Rihanna for taking on the Super Bowl stage as a new mom.  "It's a big deal... I really, really want her to have the best show," Sparks said in an interview with People Magazine. "I've been sending so much good energy to her since I heard since she was doing it, 'cause after I had my first son, I was nervous to get back out onstage." The "American Idol" alum made these comments ahead of Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, where she will perform on "the biggest stage ever." Rihanna welcomed a baby boy with rapper A$AP Rocky in March 2022.