In the final episode of Saturday Night Live‘s current season, two-time i-D cover star Rihanna performed new anthems Bitch Better Have My Money and American Oxygen in a black jumpsuit and a variety of do-rags.
Rihanna closed the 40th year of the show with a bizarrely meta performance of BBHMM that managed to upstage even the live unveiling of the track at the recent iHeart Radio Awards, where she arrived in a helicopter. Like a 2015 answer to the call of Eminem’s Stan, the performance began with BadGalRiRi in driving in front of a projection of a late night car chase before a production crew carried off her props, leaving her with backup dancers and a wailing guitar solo on a bare stage.
Later in the night, on a stage set that echoed Kanye’s recent three-screen spotlit, minimalist live shows, Rihanna recreated the video forAmerican Oxygen, using footage of 9/11, the Obamas, homeless veterans and the US flag, among others.
The performance was a triumphant end to a landmark year in SNL’s history, which has faced criticism in recent years due to its lack of diversity in its cast and writing staff. Rihanna also made the headlines this week after Dior dropped a trailer for its latest campaign, making the artist the first black woman to front a campaign in the fashion house’s history.