Preview of Rihanna’s November Vogue cover: fierce or “angry” & unflattering?

This is a preview of Rihanna’s November cover of Vogue. This is her second time on the cover of American Vogue, although she has appeared on multiple issues of the international editions. She’s on Vogue (again) to promote her new album, which comes out on November 19th (worldwide), called Unapologetic. Which is an album title ripe for analysis, right? I’m assuming Rihanna is “unapologetic” about getting back together with Chris Brown. She’s “unapologetic” about screwing around with Brown after he nearly killed her. She’s “unapologetic” about screwing around with Brown while he had a girlfriend. She’s “unapologetic” about being dumb. Which… I don’t even know at this point. Do I want an apology from Rihanna? Not really. She doesn’t need to give me (or her fans) an apology. I’d just like her to show the sense God gave a goat, you know? Speaking of, Rihanna is planning on “going public” with Chris soon:

Chris Brown and Rihanna were caught on some steamy dates in NYC in early October — so steamy that Chris confirmed the end of his relationship with girlfriend Karrueche Tran on Oct. 4.

But Chris and Rihanna have yet to go public with their newly re-ignited relationship. That’s something fans will have to wait for until Rihanna releases her new album, Unapologetic, in November, a source tells us!

A source close to Rihanna tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively that Rihanna is focusing all her energy into her new album, but once it’s completed, we’ll see her and Chris publicly!

“…She hitting the studio real hard these days, but [talks] to Chris every step of the way,” our source tells us. “As soon as she finishes up with this album, they will be out. She gotta focus and get that album together and stay paid.”

[From Hollywood Life]

Here’s a real question, and yes, I can’t believe I’m actually asking this: do you think Rihanna’s fans will leave her in droves now that she’s officially back with Chris? No, right? Even though I would hope that there would be some kind of backlash against her and against Chris, I doubt there will be. She’s going to “stay paid”. And hey, look at this way: maybe Chris will piss her off before then and they won’t even be together by November 19th.

Incidentally, I loathe this cover. I think Rihanna is so pretty, but this cover shot is AWFUL. Why does she look so angry? And why the stupid “I love to have fun” cover line?

Photos courtesy of The Fashion Spot, Annie Leibovitz/Vogue.

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85 Responses to “Preview of Rihanna’s November Vogue cover: fierce or “angry” & unflattering?”

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  1. Lizzie says:

    I’m not angry with you, Rihanna, I’m just disappointed.

    • Mimi says:

      Vogue is not what is used to be. It’s just another crappy magazine with talentless celebs on the cover. BTW She is pure trash for me. She is not only talentless but she is just stupid. I can’t stand stupid people. I can’t wait when people will get bored and find somebody new instead. And I’m old enough to know that is just matter of time.

      • Janet says:

        This^^. Anna Wintour destroyed a great magazine.

      • geekychick says:

        +2 on Vogue, but especially on Rihanna.

      • Me Too says:

        +3 on Vogue. Used to love it. Stopped wasting my time a few years ago and I’m so over the whole Anna Wintour mystique. Style advice from a woman who hasn’t changed her own style in 20 years and has made her name from being a b*tch? No thanks! At some point celebs become caricatures of themselves–Gaga, Perry, Madonna, and yes, Wintour.

      • Ally says:

        Well put, MeToo. I don’t know how that woman still has that job. The magazine has smelled of mothballs/ formaldehyde for over 10 years. It represents the sclerosis of style and has utterly failed to keep pace with evolving realities.

        Smug clueless socialites, “affordable” pieces that cost hundreds of dollars, repetitive fashion editorials, and deep articles on the latest in plastic surgery… no thanks. And this is from someone who buys a half dozen fashion magazines a month. I haven’t bought a US Vogue in years.

        The value of the Real Housewives franchise has at least been to show how tacky and dumb Vogue’s constituency is in reality.

      • Elizabeth says:

        ITA about Anne Wintour not being a style icon for modern women. Her hair just slays me – it’s a bowl cut! Some women can find a timeless style (Gloria Vanderbuilt, Jackie O, Palomo Picasso) and stay with it. They look stylish in any situation. Wintour doesn’t achieve that effect, IMO. And she looks so angry all the time.

      • Jennifer says:

        Exactly! All I wanna say to Anna Wintur is… BITCH PLEASE! REALLY?!
        September cover – Gaga
        October – Keira Knightley
        November – Rihanna
        December – Anne Hathaway.
        And the best part they are on the cover only because they are selling new perfume, album, movie, bla ala bla. What’s the difference between Vogue and any other magazine? Nicer paper?

      • Boodiba says:

        I haven’t bought a Vogue in years either, but then I hardly ever buy fashion magazines. I used to pay for both fashion & gossip but now there’s the internet! So much easier to find what you’re really interested in.

      • Val says:

        US Vogue covers look so tacky these days. ITA with all the comments above.

    • Pamspam says:

      Beautifully composed comment, Ally!

    • savedbykittylitter says:

      same, and her body looks weird in this cover, too photoshopped she is not that skinny and the pose is weird anyway,

  2. bea says:

    She’s a beautiful girl but that cover foto is very unflattering.

    My gorgeous sister got involved with an abusive jerk and no matter what we (our family) did she would not leave him. When he broke her eye socket, she finally decided she needed to get away, yet it was a full six more months before she completely stopped contacting/obsessing on him. It was a nightmare for everyone involved and it went on for years. I fear for Rihanna. Abusive guys never “get better”.

  3. MARIA says:

    she’s a cash cow and usually that means most of her fans are young, correct? (I really don’t know). I don’t think there will be a back lash, I do however belive that her fans will see her dysfunctional dangerous relationship with the C-word as romantic.

    And THAT bothers me

    • deehunny says:

      ::sigh:: you’re 100% correct. I personally believe they are waiting to go public after the album is completed/before it drops so the whole episode is sensationalized further. Instead of hindering her career, I unfortunately believe it will help the album “create buzz”

  4. dooliloo says:

    Well the dress is pretty, but I think it’s the very short hairdo and serious face combination that makes her look “angry”… I think she wanted to give the femme fatale look but it kinda failed.

    And the background is strange, it looks like it’s an outdoor added and photoshopped?

    • Amelia says:

      +1. I have very little left to say about this woman so all I’ll comment on is the styling.
      I quite like the background, it reminds me of the Serengeti. And I think short hair suits her, but that kind of cut can leave you with a serious case of bitchface if you don’t smile.

      • dooliloo says:

        Haha you sensed my post? I decided to ignore her “relationship” issues otherwise there would be foam coming out of my mouth whilst typing with anger 😀 so I focused on the styling only.
        You nailed it Amelia, bitch face is what strikes at first glance!

  5. Blue says:

    She’s so pretty and that cover isn’t that great.

    I too hope she gets away from him before it’s too late. Maybe once they go public it won’t seem so forbidden and they can make a clean break after a little while.

  6. lisa2 says:

    She is so beautiful. Her eyes are crazy. I love the short hair on her. Love the dress she is wearing (Vogue is obsessed with red dresses)

    the facial expression is the only thing wrong.

  7. Kechy says:

    She looks like a vampire on that cover

  8. Kechy says:

    She looks like a blood thirsty vampire on that cover

  9. Nev says:

    Amazing cover.

  10. TG says:

    I love her haircut, it is very similar to the kind of pixie I have been dying to get and my friends and hairdresser have been talking me out of. I know I am not goregeous like RiRi but I might just go for it. That being said she is a dumb b*tch and I won’t be listening to her music anymore.

  11. cs says:

    I think she looks beautiful. Just like Halle Berry, she looks better with short hair.

    I don’t believe there’s going to be a backlash from her fans. Look at CB’s career, he’s still selling albums.

  12. I.want.shoes says:

    She looks like an alien on that cover.

  13. judyjudy says:

    I really like her hair like this.

    Otherwise I don’t give a flip anymore. It’s exhausting to hear about her never ending foolishness.

  14. Frankly says:

    She’s horrible, ignorant, trashy and irritating and has no place on the cover of Vogue. Vogue, what are you thinking? Just gross.

    • Tania says:

      Agreed. It’s a terrible cover, she’s certainly not Vogue worthy. I dislike the cover line “I love to have fun” and detest the background they used. So random.
      And can I say I’m surprised that Anna Wintour put anything about loving Kate Upton on her cover. I’m sure she thinks she’s practically obese. (I think she looks great)
      This whole cover just doesn’t seem like Vogue??

      • Linda says:

        Just being curious, but what do you mean by she is not vogue worthy?

      • Ed45 says:

        Tania: what do you mean she’s not Vogue-worthy? Even if you loathe her and her music, she’s an extremely successful “pop” music artist and a beautiful woman. So why is she not Vogue-worthy? Just curious.

      • Christa says:

        Ummm she dresses like a prostitue, does drugs, goes back for seconds with that scumbag Chris Brown and sees no problem with any of it. A HORRIBLE role model for young women. Still confused on why she isn’t worthy?? Or are you trying infer that Tania meant something else? You don’t have to do ANY of that to be a strong woman. I would say that about Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton or any of those Kartrashians. Rihanna 5 years ago totally deserved the cover on Vogue, but this Rihanna? I wouldn’t want to advertise her.

  15. Annie says:

    I hate her tone/look of defiance. Honey, we are not the ones getting our faces beat in by some crazy angry douche who claims to love you but actually only stays with you because you are the only person in the world who lets them get away with anything. That’s not love. It’s not you and him against the world. It’s you against yourself. I’m not the one ruining my mind, body and soul.

    • JMH says:

      I actually agree with you. It’s like she’s always trying to prove what a badass she is.

    • Ryan says:

      That Tran person sure stuck around for a long time. I doubt Rihanna is the only one who would put up with him.

    • yo momma says:

      @ Annie-your comment needs to be put on the cover of a magazine instead. so succinct. x 1000

  16. the original bellaluna says:

    Heffa, you are continuing to lay the foundation for a lifetime of hurt if you don’t stop this nonsense with CB. I get it (sort of), because I’ve been there; done that (in a much longer, much more life-threatening situation, and with baby involved). But girl, you need to stop this mess you’ve got going with him!

    Get counseling; develop some self-esteem; recognise your own self-worth; and WALK AWAY WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH.

    • Nicolette says:

      Sorry that you had to go through your own hell, with a baby no less. Glad you had the strength and self respect to get out of it. Hope things are much better for you and your child now 🙂

      • the original bellaluna says:

        Nic – We’re good, thank you. The realisation that my son would be next on the “hit list” was enough to make me walk away for good. (He’s an adult now.)

    • TG says:

      I think part of the problem is she is just like him. I think she is violent as well and probably in her mind feels like it was her fault that she “made” him hit her since I sure she was being very agressive towards him either physically and/or sceaming it. I don’t feel sorry for her because she is a waste of taxpayers money everytime she calls the cops on this guy. We had trashy druggie neighbors one time and I heard a screaming match in the middle of the night and didn’t call the cops since I was hoping they would kill each other and rid themselves of our neighborhood. No such luck though, but thankfully they were kicked out of their subsidized rent.

      Not once has that punk ever apologize or looked remorseful.

  17. toto says:

    A leopard in a Jungle that’s the cover is all about.

  18. truetalk says:

    I really hate her look from the neck up in this cover pic.
    I’m hoping she won’t really hook up with Chris Brown now that he has been helpful in increasing the buzz about her just in time for her new album release but unfortunately I don’t think she’s that wise.

  19. Grace says:

    This stupid girl is making domestic violence look “exciting” to young teenaged girls.
    Rihanna has the money to run anytime she likes from men like Chris.
    The rest of the young girls in this world with “exciting” men end up dead because there is nowhere for them to escape their abusers.
    I stopped buying Vogue a long time ago and Vogue just ended their shot of ever coming back as a true fashion magazine with Rihanna on the cover. Vogue should merge with the Enquirer or Daily Mail.
    Maybe Anna W is secretly so mad at Vogue for having to “accomodate” people like Rihanna that she’s destroying Vogue as payback.

    • TheOneAndOnlyOnly says:

      Please Grace i’m curious as to what you mean by AW being so mad at having to accommodate talentless manufactured trash like RIRI that she’s secretly destroying – are you saying that AW doesn’t even control who appears on the covers of her rag er, i mean mag.

  20. samira25 says:

    I think Rihanna is going back to Chris because she didn’t hit rock bottom. Since the last fight was so public she had no choice to leave. Otherwise she probably would never have left. Even if this ends badly, I hope nobody says “I told you so”. Abuse victims always go back, multiple of times, until they comes to terms with the problem. Just because she’s a celebrity doesn’t mean she’s different from any other abuse victim.

    • Riana says:

      Very true. So many people focus so much anger on her money or resources they forget her upbringing and everything in her life has groomed her to be a victim.

      I just don’t believe money magically makes everything better. She has all the qualifications for any other woman who is being abused and many of them DO have resources available to them but choose to stay with their abuser for multiple reasons.

    • Kata says:

      Exactly! I actually find it really frustrating when people refer to Rihanna as “stupid” etc. Abusive men tend to find the women who have the personality traits to accept being beaten and dehumanized, and it is a long process for some women to learn to circumvent the cycle of abuse. Rihanna needs professional help, but all the money in the world can’t make her get it until she chooses to. They doesn’t make her dumb, it makes her unhealthy.

  21. Riana says:

    I think unapologetic refers to many things, including how she’s choosing to live her life. She has no apologies for any of it from Chris to anything else. She doesn’t owe anyone an apology…but herself for devaluing herself so much.

    No, Rihanna’s fans won’t leave her. I think SOME will, but no in droves at all. The majority of Rihanna’s fans support and love her ‘bad gyal’ persona so they’ll just support this foolishness too. The ones who would reject this likely dumped her after the ‘Cake Remix’

    The only place Rihanna will get hurt is in terms of sponsorship and business. No company wants the girl who’s dating her abusive ex representing them. So there’s that at least.

  22. Blondie says:

    Way to go Vogue! I bet you’re gonna sell a lot of mags by putting a drugged out alcoholic with an abusive boyfriend on your cover. Rihanna so glad you love to have fun. I guess my idea of fun is a lot different than yours.

  23. Nicolette says:

    Would have been more accurate if the word “idiot” were stamped across her forehead.

  24. stellalovejoydiver says:

    She looks like an alien on that cover.
    I don´t think there will be that much of a backlash when she announces her reunion with Chris Brown, there were a lot of stories during the past month hinting at this. She will still sell records, but I think Jay-Z might be pissed. Considering that he signed Rita Ora, who is a lot better singer than Rihanna, he might put all his money and focus on her.

  25. vvy says:

    She’s the poster child for abuse addiction. I suppose this makes her someone that people want to watch, cause this kind of thing goes on in many relationships. I only hope it doesn’t happen again, but i think we all know it will, to some degree, at some point. Sad.

  26. bns says:

    Her hair has grown on me (no pun intended), and I think this is one of the better Vogue covers of late. They still need to fire Anna Wintour, though.

  27. Ramona Q. says:

    Might it help her move on from CB if she put that picture of her all beat up as the pic that comes up on her phone when Chris Brown calls her?

    • ShaCur says:

      I actually did do this with my very abusive ex. I saved the photos whenever I had a new injury and when i was struggling to stay away i forced myself to flip through them every night and every morning. The few few people i told were a bit weirded out, but it actually did help -a lot- it’s very easy to forget all those times until you’re deliberately putting them in your face. It gets much easier!

  28. jano1981 says:

    Her eyes look dead. She looks ugly. Butt. Ugly. But thus dead eyes are incredibly gross.

  29. TheOneAndOnlyOnly says:

    Agree with mimi, janet and others re decline of Vogue – many,many are questioning Vogue’s decline to enquirer level; Grace what do you mean when you say AW is secretly destroying vogue by having to “accommodate” tedious trash like Rihanna; Is someone forcing her hand in putting the same 10-20 recycled celebutards on the cover;
    This trend of turning all women’s/fashion mags into another marketing outlet for celebs started 10-12 yrs ago with the decline of the supermodel era – Please explain further what you mean Grace i’m interested.
    Hey Vogue if you want a non-white face try Joan Smalls or SHei Pei (sic) actual models.

  30. Gigi says:

    She looks beautiful, exotic!!! This is her best look ever

    (can’t believe I’m saying this haha)

  31. jes_sayin says:

    Poor girl looks like she needs to go to sleep for about a week.. her eyes are ALWAYS half shut anymore. She used to be so beautiful ;-/

  32. M says:

    Maybe she looks so pissed because Chris Brown hit her again.

  33. Gracie says:

    I don’t think she’s pretty at all,a weird nose, too big forehead, and she’s just horrible and insufferable to top it off?

    • Linda says:

      News flash grace, her nose is not weird, she is of African descent and has the features of an African woman. If u ever pay a visit to many west African countries, you will find out that our noses are shaped this way.

    • Christa says:

      Insufferable for sure, but I wouldn’t call her ugly. I don’t find her to be out-of-this-world gorgeous (at least IMO) but her nose and forehead look fine to me. It’s her always looking like a used tramp that puts me off. I’ve seen her look very pretty and classy before…not too often lol but it’s happened.

  34. Christina says:

    She’s very pretty but she looks like she does drugs.

  35. Lindsey says:

    Disaster

  36. Talie says:

    The best thing the media can do is not give this relationship any attention at all. If that were to happen, these two wouldn’t even want to be with each other.

  37. bowers says:

    Her dad beat her mom, right? It’s a culture thing, and I hope he doesn’t kill her.

  38. mln76 says:

    I always feel too conflicted about this situation to go there…first off people are way too harsh about her. I mean it took Tina Turner something like 20 or 30 years to ditch Ike of course its not gonna happen on our timetable and while I believe JayZ and others in the industry may have told her to stay away her family has come forward several times to support him. People should realize that in her culture domestic violence probably isn’t as much of a scandal as it is here. I like Rihanna Eventhough she’ s no great talent I honestly think she’s got a ton of charisma and I am rooting for her to get her head straight but its probably going to have to get really ugly first.

    • dooliloo says:

      Domestic violence is not associated with culture by any means, now unless the bloody term has been hijacked by people who live in denial of the gravity of violence? Anyway it’s her decision alone to go back to her ex, despite whoever around her telling her it may not be a good idea… Women get beaten some of them are stuck in forced marriage and other fear for their life for xyz reasons (to skip the list of examples) hence why they keep quiet, and the people who know they’re getting beaten don’t do anything either by cowardice or then they fear the repercussions if they denounced the person so they keep quiet. It’s a scandal, it’s awful but that’s the reality, some people keep quiet but again in no way it’s seen as a “culture”

      • mln76 says:

        Ahem I bet you won’t read this but I have to say you are dead wrong. I have no idea where you are from or how old you are but ill put it this way. A woman expieriencing domestic violence today in America fairs differently then a woman 50 years ago or a woman in a place like Afghanistan. The difference between the past in the US where a woman had no legal protection or recourse and people in general viewed this as more of a personal problem best ignored and dealt with in secret is due to cultural changes towards womens rights and domestic violence. Does that mean that magically every woman walked out of abusive situations of course not but the cultural view has helped to put a support system in place so that its possible. So where 50 years ago in the US a woman might have been ignored by the police,and told to obey her husband by priest and turned away by her family and shunned by the community at large now when a woman tells her story of abuse in general she’s viewed as heroic…I just don’t think Rihanna grew up with the same cultural beliefs surrounding abuse. I’d be curious to know what the laws and enforcement are in her native country.

  39. Rikki says:

    That is her 2nd US Vogue cover in 2 years. That is a great accomplishment because they don’t put many black women on their covers. She looks average in that photo. I’ve seen her look a lot better. I like the hair but not the cover and I am sick of hearing about her and Chris Brown. I guess since they have albums coming out they really need the publicity.

  40. The Original Mia says:

    The cover would be great if not for the heavy eyeliner. Just makes her eyes look dead as opposed to sultry, which is what I think they were going for. Who knows.

    I’ve given up caring about her & CB. She hasn’t learned that abuse doesn’t equal passionate love & I don’t expect her to anytime soon. So I’m not going to waste my time worrying that he’s beating or cheating on her because this is what she wants. Have at it.

  41. handsome man saved me from the monsters says:

    Unapologetic? Will the next one be called
    Unconscious? How about Unresponsive …

  42. Christa says:

    Ick. This chick destroyed any respect I had for her when she went back to that asshole Chris Brown. Plus she generally just looks like a whore nowdays. What happened girl??? You used to rock.

  43. Mrs. Ari Gold says:

    How did they manage to make her look bad? You can say whatever you want to about her but she is definitely beautiful – they should have re-shot it.

    I agree that Vogue has become a disaster by always putting celebrities on the cover. So good to see that are others don’t respect Anna Wintour either.

  44. Adrien says:

    She looks like androgynous model, Omahyra Mota on the cover.

  45. ture says:

    its the hair. i hate it!

  46. kitty-bye says:

    *_* _______________________…

  47. Lady_Luck says:

    I do not understand, how Rihanna has not managed to evolve throughout the years and is still effectively an angry, aggressive, immature, rebellious teen in outlook and attitude. I do not understand and cannot understand how she chooses aggression as her main stance in the world and how she thinks somehow to be hard and angry is her only choice.

  48. INeedANap says:

    I like what they tried to do here — I am getting tired of the eyes-half-open, mouth-half-open faux “sexy” face most starlets and pop stars give on magazine covers. The execution was a disaster though, she looks less “angry” and more “zombie wants braaaaaains.” She just doesn’t have the maturity and gravitas to pull off angry in a magnetic way. Honey, leave that pose to Angie Jo.

  49. Mayday says:

    She looks great!

  50. Anon says:

    She looks like a witch. I can’t imagine anyone having the “balls” (read craziness) to date her this way.