Rihanna drew criticism from some fans for a performance deemed "lazy" during her surprise return to the stage at Jay-Z's concert at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The singer appeared alongside Jay-Z to perform their 2009 hit "Run This Town" and her 2015 track "Bitch Better Have My Money." This marked her first public performance since headlining the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show in 2023.
Jay-Z's concert, which celebrated milestones such as the 30th anniversary of his debut album "Reasonable Doubt," also featured guest appearances from Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, Usher, and others. However, the event was marred by a significant delay, pushing the start time past midnight due to a security breach. Reports indicated that a large crowd without tickets breached the stadium entrance, leading to a lockdown.
Following her performance, Rihanna was seen with her partner A$AP Rocky and their youngest child, Rocki Irish, who was born in September 2025. The couple also has two sons, RZA Athelston and Riot Rose.
Social media reactions to Rihanna's performance were mixed. While some praised the artists' energy, many expressed disappointment. Critics on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) described the performance as "lackluster" and "a hot ass mess." Some fans claimed Rihanna appeared "so tired" and questioned her stage presence, with one user suggesting she "literally gives up singing" mid-song. Another social media user commented that Rihanna "needs to lock-in with a dance studio ... [and] a vocal coach ... and she'll be ready to go," while another stated, "She had no energy but it's understandable."
Rihanna herself acknowledged the break from performing, telling the audience, "Y'all know I'm rusty, right? It's been a while. Y'all with me right now?" Comparisons were made on social media to her performances from over a decade prior, with one user tweeting, "Yup she's rusty being an entertainer. She's mastered being a CEO we need badgyalriri back." Others suggested she focus on her businesses, with one post including a GIF of Oprah Winfrey shrugging.
Jay-Z apologized for the concert's late start, explaining the security situation and the risk of crowd trampling. "I appreciate your patience. We gonna have a good time," he told the audience after taking the stage past midnight. "There was like 10,000 people outside and they closed all the doors because they rushed the door and I didn't want to start music and have people get trampled. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience."