Fair or Foul?: CBS Cancels Rihanna Performance at Ravens/Steelers Game

This week has been dominated by domestic violence talks and abusive relationships after the footage from Ray Rice's attack on his fiancee', Janay Palmer, were released. The tapes reopened the conversation circling the couple and their abusive argument that took place earlier this year. As a result, the Baltimore Ravens Running Back is now unemployed and has been shunned from the world (It Seems).

With all the drama circling Rice and abuse, CBS has decided to cancel it's initial plans to have Rihanna perform during a pre-game sequence for tonight's Ravens vs. Steelers battle. Rihannna was the only other face of 'domestic abuse' on this big of a scale with her case against ex boyfriend and popstar, Chris Brown.

CBS has taken all matters into account and has decided to cancel Rihanna's appearance at tonight's game.

Via TMZ:

CBS has pulled the plug on the musical opening of tonight’s “Thursday Night Football” — and it’s very clear it’s because they don’t want to feature Rihanna in the midst of the Ray Rice scandal.

The opening features Rihanna performing a version of her hit “Run This Town” — while Don Cheadle introduces the teams and dramatically asks who will “run this town” when the game is over.

But with the Ray Rice scandal in full swing, it’s clear CBS didn’t want to feature another celebrity who was involved in a high-profile domestic violence incident.

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus says, “We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone coverage.”

The musical opening will be replaced by a discussion of Roger Goodell’s recent comments about the Ray Rice incident.

Was this a smart move by CBS? Or was this over the top?

@LordBrianJames