Rihanna's 'SNL' Rehearsal No Show Angers Show Executives
Rihanna reportedly angered the producers of "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend after missing her dress rehearsal shortly before her live performance.
The 24-year-old Bajan singer was applauded by audience members after performing her new singles "Where Have You Been" and "Talk That Talk." Behind the scenes, though, show executives like Lorne Michaels were furious that she called in sick but reportedly appeared to be fine when she showed up later on, according to TMZ.
"Rihanna was sick and needed to save her voice for the live show," Rihanna's representative told TMZ when asked why she failed to appear for the dress rehearsal.
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"SNL" staff was shocked when Rihanna was seen walking around and eating an apple between songs, despite being too ill to show up for her dress rehearsal.
Missing a dress rehearsal is widely frowned upon in live television as it denies the performers and the producers the chance to identify potential areas of improvement before the show, which poses the risk of jeopardizing the end result.
Rihanna's choreographer danced to her songs in front of the live dress-rehearsal audience instead because she claimed that she was unfit to do it herself.
A doctor was reportedly brought in to treat the singer in her dressing room shortly before her performance and she was given a shot of penicillin backstage to help her sore throat.
The "We Found Love" singer has been spotted partying hard in recent weeks at various events including a Queens, N.Y. strip club and the Coachella festival.
Fans became increasingly concerned when Rihanna posted a controversial picture on Instagram which led to speculation that she may be on drugs.
She was seen sitting on her body guard's shoulders laying out a white powdery substance on his bald head with alongside the carefree caption "Memories don't live like people do #coachella."
