CBS pulls Rihanna song from Ravens game in wake of Ray Rice furor

Rihanna’s song “Run This Town” had been scheduled to open CBS’ broadcast Thursday night of the NFL showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

But just a few hours before kickoff, the network pulled the singer and the song in light of the ongoing domestic violence scandal over former Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was cut by the team and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after a video surfaced of him punching his then-fiance -- and current wife -- Janey Palmer in an Atlantic City elevator earlier this year.

Sports Illustrated reported the change was made because Rihanna was a victim of domestic violence in 2009 when her former boyfriend Chris Brown viciously beat her. The song had been planned to play with a narration from actor Don Cheadle.

CBS has also yanked a planned comedic segment and will now open its pregame show with a report from “CBS This Morning” co-host Norah O’Donnell, who interviewed NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell earlier this week about his handling of the incident.

“We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage,” Sean McManus, the head of CBS Sports, told Sports Illustrated.

Twitter: @GeBraxton