CBS changed a portion of its programming package for today’s Thursday Night Football broadcast (September 11) of the game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in part because of the inclusion of Jay Z’s “Run This Town,” according to ABC News.

Rihanna, who along with Kanye West appeared on Jay Z’s “Run This Town,” was a victim of domestic abuse. The singer was assaulted in 2009 by then-boyfriend Chris Brown.

Video surfaced Monday (September 8) of then-Ravens running back Ray Rice striking and knocking unconscious his then-fiance. Rice, who was serving a two-game NFL suspension, was released by the Ravens and then banned indefinitely from the NFL Monday.

CBS had announced that “Run This Town” was to be included as part of the opening sequence for each of its 2014 NFL broadcasts of Thursday Night Football. The sequence also features narration from actor Don Cheadle.

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said that Rihanna being a victim of domestic abuse was a reason the network removed the sequence, though it was “not the overriding one,” according to the ABC story.

For more Rihanna coverage, watch the following DX Daily:


 


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(September 11, 2014)

UPDATE: Rihanna has criticized CBS for removing her from its Thursday Night Football broadcast in a Twitter statement regarding the matter. 

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