Rihanna criticises CBS decision to axe song from NFL show because of singer's connection to domestic violence

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Rihanna was less than impressed by the producers of sports channel CBS's decision to cut an opening segment featuring one of her songs from their Thursday Night Football show because of her past connection with the issue of domestic violence.

The Barbadian singer was the victim – not the perpetrator – of abuse ahead of the Grammys in 2009, after her then-partner Chris Brown attacked her in a car.

But the broadcaster felt the inclusion of her hit with Jay Z, "Run This Town", as well as in a comedic sketch, would have jeopardised the "appropriate tone and coverage" of their planned segment on the Ray Rice scandal.

They did, however, promise to re-instate the opener this Thursday 18 September, presumably after the Rice headlines had slowed somewhat.

Rice was suspended indefinitely from the NFL after leaked footage that showed the player knocking his partner, Janay Rice, unconscious in a lift was published by TMZ.

"CBS you pulled my song last week, now you wanna slide it back in this Thursday? NO, F*** you!" she has since tweeted. "Y'all are sad for penalizing me for this."

She followed her post up simply with: "The audacity..."

CBS is yet to issue a formal response to Rihanna's comments.

Rice was the subject of further controversy today (16 September), after it was reported that the NFL Players' Union plan to appeal his indefinite suspension.

NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah told The Associated Press on Monday (14 September): "We are expecting to appeal before the deadline on Tuesday night."