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Rihanna Not Canceling Brit Awards Performance Despite Rumors, ‘BBHMM’ Singer’s Team Arrives In London

By Noel Zelindo
Published on: 09:20 PST, Feb 21, 2016

Rihanna is still confirmed as a performer for this year’s 2016 Brit Awards despite rumors suggesting that the “Diamonds” singer may be a no-show at the annual music event.

Earlier this week, Rihanna made headlines after she canceled her previously scheduled performance for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards despite having attended rehearsals for the show on Monday. While Rihanna’s rep released a statement citing bronchitis as the reason for singer’s absence during the event, other rumors emerged suggesting that the singer had a “meltdown” during rehearsals that triggered her decision to bail on the show altogether.

Just days later, it was announced that Rihanna had postponed the kickoff date for her “Anti World Tour” due to production delays in addition to canceling two notable U.K. dates in Sunderland and Cardiff.

With the growing number of cancellations, new reports have surfaced suggesting that those in connection with the Brit Awards are becoming increasingly concerned that Rihanna will bail on her scheduled performance on February 24.

According to TV3, Brit Awards hosts Ant and Dec are worried that Rihanna will not perform during next week’s awards ceremony given her illness-related cancellation at the Grammy Awards in addition to the fact that Rihanna had to cancel on the show last year.

Dec reveals, “[Rihanna] pulled out last year and she’s pulled out of the Grammys this year,” while Ant adds, “No one turns around and goes, ‘We hate her because of that.’ We all kinda go, ‘Yeah, you’re quite cool. Get to the Brits!'”

Rihanna ignites concerns that she may pull out of the Brit Awards this year.
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

In addition, Brit Awards Chairman Max Lousada was quoted as saying that he experienced a “sweaty moment” after hearing that Rihanna pulled out of her Grammy Awards performance earlier this week, albeit noting that he’s trying to stay “positive” that the songstress will make it in time for this year’s awards.

“Well, she’s announced. And that’s already ahead of where we were last year. All international talent has a warning flag,” Lousada explains, “And the set and the ideas and the surprises look massive. So we’re going into it with a positive view. Second time lucky.”

A spokeswoman for the awards also confirmed on Saturday that there has been “no change to the line-up” in terms of performers for Wednesday’s show.

News of Rihanna’s Brit Awards performance was also seemingly confirmed by several observant Twitter users who point out that Rihanna’s backup dancers and vocalists have arrived in London just days ahead of the event.

One fan writes, “One of Rihanna’s backing vocalists is in London,” alongside a screengrab of the singer’s Instagram post regarding her arrival in London.

In addition, another fan shares a screengrab of a conversation between one of Rihanna’s backing vocalists and another Instagram user in which they claim to be departing from London the day after the awards.

While it’s unclear which new track Rihanna will be performing off of her new studio album, Anti, the singer was reportedly planning on performing “Kiss It Better” during the Grammy Awards this past week, Billboard reports.

The news comes just one day after Rihanna celebrated her 28th birthday alongside family and friends, prompting further speculation that the songstress’ Grammy cancellation may not have been due to bronchitis.

TMZ reported on Sunday that the songstress appeared to have “bounced back in a big way” from bronchitis after partying it up for her birthday last night before alleging that sources in attendance at Rihanna’s Grammys rehearsal said the songstress “threw a fit” because of a “seating dispute” for the event.

Despite the claims, a source close to Rihanna later reached out to Complex to dispel TMZ‘s claims that Rihanna had a “meltdown” that led to her Grammys cancellation, although Rihanna has not spoken out in regard to either claim.

What do you think Rihanna will perform at this year’s Brit Awards?

[Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images]

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