Describing it as “fire,” the couple has chosen to appear lowkey and has only been photographed officially at galas and big events, avoiding being seen during mundane activities or on bad days. When Rihanna stepped back from music to focus on her acclaimed beauty line, Fenty, no one was concerned. Rihanna seemed ready to embrace entrepreneurship fully. However, this shift meant she stopped producing hits and gradually distanced herself from the music industry, skipping events like the Grammys in favor of fashion week.
It’s no wonder, then, that when she was announced as the main entertainer for Super Bowl LVII, everyone rushed to Instagram to confirm the news. Speculation arose about a new album or surprise appearances from her famous friends. Known to be close with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Adele, fans hoped for unexpected cameos. However, when the 13-minute performance ended without any surprises, many were disappointed as the game resumed.
The show, designed for home viewers with floating platforms and digital effects, left some missing the lighting and dance routines of past performances. Rihanna opened with “B***h Better Have My Money” from atop an aerial platform at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. She continued with popular EDM tracks like “Where Have You Been,” “We Found Love,” and “Only Girl (In the World).”
Everything went smoothly until Rihanna made a particular hand gesture during her final song, “Diamonds.” She thanked Arizona while forming a triangle with her hands close to her forehead. This gesture, not broadcasted on TV but caught by Twitter users at the event, sparked curiosity and speculation. Some wondered if it was a simple diamond shape for the song or something more.
Conspiracy theories quickly spread online, ranging from bizarre to plausible. Twitter user @lukebelmar alleged that authorities cut the ending for TV viewers, while @The_Laureate_ claimed it was “hidden in plain sight.” Another theory by @EduardBrichuk suggested that Rihanna’s set depicted the “Illuminati pyramid order in plain sight.”
Digging deeper, this isn’t the first time Rihanna has faced scrutiny for alleged nods to the Illuminati. In 2018, she was banned from Senegal for displaying symbols associated with the society in her work. The Illuminati, an alleged secret society, is a major pop culture conspiracy. Historically, the Order of the Illuminati was a secret group founded in Bavaria in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, who believed that the church and monarchy repressed freedom of thought.
Reddit conspiracy theorists allege that the world is run by an ancient cabal of cultists, who communicate through secret signals, sometimes concealed within music videos. It’s a bit weird that these supposedly all-powerful people can’t just speak privately, or send text messages to one another, but that’s the idea. It is no secret in Hollywood that many famous celebrities have been allegedly linked to the society: Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z. Does the group sound familiar?
For several years, Jay-Z has made a hand signal that forms a triangle during his performances. This is supposedly meant to represent a diamond and has become synonymous with Jay-Z and his record label. Occasionally, Beyoncé will also flash the hand signal, likely in support of her husband. However, this is not taken lightly by theorists, who believe Jay-Z is a figure of power within the organization and holds power over figures like Rihanna.
But the triangle shape is, for some, associated with the “Eye of Providence” (usually enclosed inside of a triangle or a pyramid). The Eye is connected to a wide range of belief systems, including the Freemasons and Illuminati, along with the many conspiracy theories that surround them. It is a sign of devotion, and it should never be used lightly.
