Update: Nearly an hour after her originally scheduled performance, Rihanna addressed her sudden absence from the Grammys with a Twitter post.
"#NAVY so sorry I couldn't be there ..... Thanks Grammys and CBS for your support tonight," the singer wrote.
#NAVY so sorry I couldn't be there ..... Thanks Grammys and CBS for your support tonight.
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 16, 2016
This story was originally published February 15 at 9:40 pm:
Tonight, Rihanna broke our hearts. The singer cancelled her Grammys performance just hours before she was due to go on stage.
She released her album, ANTI, last month and was scheduled to perform the track, "Kiss It Better."
TMZ broke the news saying the singer was suffering from a vocal chord injury that could result in permanent damage if she went on with the performance. The singer's rep also gave this statement to JustJared.com explaining her absence: “Based on Rihanna's examination, after Grammy rehearsal today, Rihanna's doctor put her on vocal rest for 48-hours because she was at risk of hemorrhaging her vocal chords. The antibiotics she has been on for 3-days did not kill the infection adequately therefore she cannot perform safely.” A Refinery29 writer reporting from the Grammys relayed to us that Rihanna was originally scheduled to perform after Ellie Goulding and be introduced by James Corden. Sadly that didn't happen. It appears even Rihanna's band was caught off-guard by the news. Nuno Bettencourt, who plays guitar, uploaded this picture two days before the show. "Tune in... Today was just the run through at Staples, but on Monday, I will be hitting the Grammy stage with the "non cardboard cutout" version of this girl right here. Ri-United for one night only... Epic. #Rihanna #Grammys #calledoffthebench" he captioned the photo.
TMZ broke the news saying the singer was suffering from a vocal chord injury that could result in permanent damage if she went on with the performance. The singer's rep also gave this statement to JustJared.com explaining her absence: “Based on Rihanna's examination, after Grammy rehearsal today, Rihanna's doctor put her on vocal rest for 48-hours because she was at risk of hemorrhaging her vocal chords. The antibiotics she has been on for 3-days did not kill the infection adequately therefore she cannot perform safely.” A Refinery29 writer reporting from the Grammys relayed to us that Rihanna was originally scheduled to perform after Ellie Goulding and be introduced by James Corden. Sadly that didn't happen. It appears even Rihanna's band was caught off-guard by the news. Nuno Bettencourt, who plays guitar, uploaded this picture two days before the show. "Tune in... Today was just the run through at Staples, but on Monday, I will be hitting the Grammy stage with the "non cardboard cutout" version of this girl right here. Ri-United for one night only... Epic. #Rihanna #Grammys #calledoffthebench" he captioned the photo.
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I guess the cardboard cut-out is all we are going to get tonight, unfortunately. And fans are not too happy about that at all.
@yexao @TMZ girl I hope this is false idk but if Nicki bey and rih ain't here I'm out pic.twitter.com/dvgB6hxUjT
— HIIIIIIIIIGHER (@finest_fantasy) February 16, 2016
When you were anticipating seeing Rihanna and Beyoncé destroy their performance at the Grammys and they both flop pic.twitter.com/SePXe2agct
— Black Girl (@BLVCKMATTERS) February 16, 2016
"Rihanna What happened at the Grammys?"
— The Stan Magazine (@TheStanMagazine) February 16, 2016
Rihanna: pic.twitter.com/WxWDFa10bs
Rihanna @ the Grammys pic.twitter.com/T0avcO3316
— Antonio (@antonioscastles) February 16, 2016
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