Olympic commentator mistakes Halle Bailey for Rihanna during women’s figure skating

An Olympic commentator confused Halle Bailey with Rihanna during live women’s figure skating coverage

A brief moment during the women’s figure skating broadcast at the Winter Olympics has turned into a widely discussed pop culture flashpoint after an Olympic commentator mistakenly identified Halle Bailey as Rihanna while speaking live on air. The error was quickly noticed by viewers, many of whom took to social media to express frustration and disbelief at the mix up.

The moment unfolded during coverage of the event when the commentator appeared to reference Bailey in the crowd, only to name Rihanna instead. Almost instantly, clips and screenshots circulated online, with fans pointing out that the two stars have entirely different careers, public profiles and appearances. While both are globally recognised entertainers, many viewers felt the mistake reflected a lack of care and awareness during a broadcast of such a major international event.

Online reaction was swift and intense. Some users described the error as embarrassing for the broadcaster, particularly given the scale and prestige of the Olympics. Others criticised the tendency for commentators to inject celebrity references into sporting coverage without sufficient accuracy, arguing that it detracts from the athletes and the competition itself. The moment became a talking point across platforms, with discussions extending beyond the individual error to wider issues around representation and professionalism in live commentary.

At the same time, a smaller group of viewers adopted a more forgiving tone. They noted that live broadcasting is unpredictable and fast moving, and that commentators often speak without scripts while reacting in real time. Even so, many of those voices still acknowledged that confusing two high profile Black women entertainers was a mistake that should not have happened on a global stage.

Neither Bailey nor Rihanna has addressed the incident publicly. Bailey has remained focused on her own projects and appearances, while Rihanna continues to maintain a relatively low profile outside of her business ventures and selective public outings. Their silence has not slowed online conversation, with the clip continuing to resurface as one of those moments that becomes loosely attached to an Olympic cycle.

Broadcast networks typically review moments like this internally, particularly when public reaction is so strong. The Olympics place intense scrutiny on every aspect of coverage, and commentators are expected to meet high standards of accuracy and awareness. For many viewers, this incident served as a reminder that even brief remarks can carry weight when delivered to a worldwide audience.