Rihanna appeared on Saturday Night Live on Saturday to perform three of her singles and participate in a brief skit, but even that didn’t escape controversy as TMZ reports SNL producer Lorne Michaels was upset with her before the show for skipping the dress rehearsal, something that apparently hasn’t happened in years.
The dress rehearsals are performed live before a studio audience, but Rihanna’s reps said she was too sick to go onstage and wanted to save herself for the show. They said a doctor was summoned to her room to administer penicillin—though SNL staffers said she didn’t appear very sick as she walked around the set between performances.
On the show, she performed “Where Have You Been?” and a mash-up of “Talk that Talk” and “Birthday Cake.” The performances were vintage Rihanna, with the Barbados native donning all-black ensembles and performing in front of two elaborate sets, a huge sparkly spider web and a colorful Arabian nights theme with dancers and drummers.
This appearance marks the singer’s third appearance on SNL. Her first appearance, a skit with Andy Samberg’s character Shy Ronnie in which she appeared as his girlfriend, earned an Emmy nomination. Despite speculation, her ex, Chris Brown, was not there.
In addition to this appearance, Rihanna is starring in Battleship, set to be released on May 18.
The “Only Girl in the World” singer also appeared in an SNL promo with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who hosted the show last night. It was Manning’s first time hosting, however, his brother, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, hosted the show back in 2007.
