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Rihanna Still Set For BRIT Awards Performance Despite Illness And Tour Cancellations

By Noel Zelindo
Published on: 06:59 PST, Feb 19, 2016

Rihanna may have canceled her previously scheduled Grammy Awards performance due to illness, but it appears that the songstress is still planning to perform at this year’s BRIT Awards amid rumors that production delays are creating problems for the “Work” singer.

Earlier this week, Rihanna’s camp released a statement regarding the songstress’ decision to pull out of her scheduled Grammy performance of “Kiss It Better,” citing illness and doctor’s orders as the reason for the last-minute cancellation.

According to Rihanna’s rep, the “Diamonds” singer’s doctor put her on vocal rest for 48 hours to avoid “hemorrhaging her vocal cords” after antibiotics to treat a case of bronchitis “did not kill the infection adequately,” Billboard reports.

In addition to canceling her performance, Rihanna was also noticeably absent from the Grammy Awards red carpet and was a no-show for the event despite appearing in a promotional teaser for the CBS program one month prior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtLXCct_ASc

Just one day later, rumors began surfacing suggesting that Rihanna did not back out of her Grammy performance due to illness, rather, that the singer had a “meltdown” during rehearsals and “bailed on the event” altogether.

Alleged sources in connection with the Grammy Awards reportedly told TMZ that Rihanna sounded “great” during rehearsals for her performance but ended up canceling her appearance because she was “too upset to stay and watch the show” after an unexplained “outburst.”

The sources reveal that Rihanna was “loudly expressing displeasure over her rehearsal,” although there’s no confirmation as to what “triggered her outburst” prior to the event.

The site also notes that Rihanna “sang flawlessly” during a charity event honoring Lionel Richie just two nights before the Grammy Awards, further fueling speculation that illness may not have been the true reason behind Rihanna’s decision to back out of her performance.

Despite the speculation, Complex reports that a source close to Rihanna has spoken out against TMZ’s “meltdown” reports and insists that bronchitis was the real reason behind Rihanna’s no-show Grammy appearance.

In addition, it was announced earlier this week that Rihanna’s illness has led the songstress to postpone nine previously scheduled dates on the North American leg of her “Anti World Tour,” including dates in San Diego, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, New Orleans, Oakland, and San Jose.

While Rihanna’s tour has been postponed to March 12, the songstress has also reportedly canceled two U.K. dates in Sunderland and Cardiff due to “production delays,” NME reports.

The latest round of cancellations stemming from Rihanna’s impending “Anti World Tour” have also begun to raise concerns that Rihanna may back out of her scheduled BRIT Awards performance on February 24.

While it’s unclear whether or not Rihanna will be well enough to perform at the awards show next week, a spokesman for the event reportedly told the Sun that they have not heard any word from Rihanna’s team regarding a BRIT Awards cancellation.

“We haven’t heard about any changes to her Brits performance slot currently,” the spokesman revealed of the Rihanna cancellation rumors.

In addition, the site further notes that Rihanna was supposed to perform at last year’s BRIT Awards ceremony but canceled at the last minute after she “failed to show up for rehearsals.”

“Everything was prepared for Rihanna’s performance but she was a no-show,” the source explained. “The organizers are furious as she was one of the biggest coups.”

Do you think Rihanna will be performing at this year’s BRIT Awards?

[Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images]

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