Former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall dropped into the Kansas City Chiefs’ media availability a few days ago and he played a brutal prank on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 27-year-old blushed as he was told that Rihanna, the Super Bowl halftime performer, said he was the greatest QB to ever play the game.

After Mahomes offered an appreciative response to that news, Marshall revealed that he made the whole thing up.

On Thursday, Rihanna came to Mahomes’s rescue as Marshall informed him of what he did.

“That’s so mean. He is mean, O.K.,” Rihanna said. “I’m so sorry you went through that. I still think you’re great.”

Rihanna will be on full display on Super Bowl Sunday when she performs the halftime show in Glendale, Ariz.

Mahomes now has confirmation that Rihanna spoke about him, so he might have extra added motivation to secure his second Super Bowl ring.