CBS’ Rihanna Opening Theme Song Canceled from Ravens-Steelers Game Broadcast; Not Another Domestic Violence Victim in the Wake of Ray Rice Scandal

CBS Rihanna - Sports officials from the television network have decided to cancel the singer's opening theme song from Thursday night's broadcast of the Ravens-Steelers game in Baltimore, Sports Illustrated reported.

The sudden decision by CBS on Rihanna's participation is reportedly just one of the many programming changes the network made in the wake of the Ray Rice scandal.

Rihanna, whose track "Run This Town" was scheduled to play over a narration by actor Don Cheadle, is considered as one of the most prominent survivors of domestic violence after she suffered a well publicized beat up from ex-boyfriend and singer Chris Brown in 2009.

Apparently, CBS didn't want to feature Rihanna - another individual associated to domestic violence when the NFL is already facing a huge scandal of similar kind.

After TMZ released a video of him knocking out his then fiance (now wife) Janay Palmer unconscious, Rice was reportedly cut by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely this week by the NFL.

It is not only Rihanna that CBS is removing from its program, it is also reportedly scrapping a comedic segment set for broadcast. Instead, it will now open its pregame show with a report from "CBS This Morning" anchor Norah O'Donnell, who interviewed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday after the Rice video emerged.

CBS' Rihanna cancellation was reportedly an important decision for the coveted Thursday Night Football programming, since the Rice scandal is already too big not to be the focal point of the game, and the network doesn't want to pile up on the issue by featuring another domestic violence victim for the opening.

"It's important to realize we are not overreacting to this story but it is as big a story as has faced the NFL," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus, told SI "We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage. A lot of the production elements we wanted in the show are being eliminated because of time or tone."