The release of a video showing Ray Rice punching his then-fiancée in the face continues to send shockwaves through the NFL.
In the wake of Rice’s release from the Baltimore Ravens and indefinite suspension from the NFL, CBS has announced that it removed an opener featuring pop star Rihanna and actor Don Cheadle from its “Thursday Night Football” pregame show.
NFL Media spokesman Alex Riethmiller confirmed the changes to USA TODAY’s For the Win Thursday.
The opener was slated to include Rihanna and rapper Jay-Z performing their hit song, “Run This Town,” while Cheadle narrated a customized preview of the contest, which pits the Baltimore Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rihanna was a victim of domestic violence committed by her ex-boyfriend, recording artist Chris Brown, in 2009.
In place of the performance, the pregame show will open with a report from “CBS This Morning” co-anchor Norah O’Donnell, who interviewed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Wednesday regarding the Rice incident.
“It’s important to realize we are not overreacting to this story but it is as big a story as has faced the NFL,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus told SI.com Thursday. “We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage. A lot of the production elements we wanted in the show are being eliminated because of time or tone.”
Rihanna and Cheadle’s segment is expected to make its debut next Thursday night.
Photo via Twitter/@USATODAYsports
