Rihanna covers the April issue of Vogue (USA), which is weird because she’s also on the April cover of Vogue UK (which was released weeks ago), and usually Anna Wintour doesn’t want to be the second Vogue cover, especially if it’s the same month! But Wintour loves Rihanna – this is, from what I can see, Rihanna’s fourth outing on American Vogue, not counting a Met Gala supplemental. Rih’s obviously covered multiple international Vogue editions multiple times. Rihanna’s media blitz is in support of her new album, ANTI, which… some people love. The songs I’ve heard so far, I do not love. But maybe some of the better singles are coming out later. You can read Rihanna’s profile here, and here are some highlights:
Preparing for her tour: “I am probably going to have like four days of tour rehearsal in total, which is Freaking. Me. Out. My schedule is so crazy right now.”
Her schedule is why she’s single: “It’s definitely going to be a challenge when I do decide to pursue a relationship…but I have hope!”
After her 2013 tour, she took a break: “I wanted a year to just do whatever I want artistically, creatively. I lasted a week.” The paparazzi got a picture of her going into the studio, “and my fans were like, ‘Oh yes! We’s droppin’ a single.’” From that moment, she says, the Navy was expecting an album. It would be another two years.
Reinventing the pop-music wheel: “I just gravitated toward the songs that were honest to where I am now… It might not be some automatic record that will be Top 40. But I felt like I earned the right to do that now.”
Whether she has a beef with Beyonce or “Formation”: “Here’s the deal. They just get so excited to feast on something that’s negative. Something that’s competitive. Something that’s, you know, a rivalry. And that’s just not what I wake up to. Because I can only do me. And nobody else is going to be able to do that.”
Going sheer to the CFDAs in 2014: “I just liked it better without the lines underneath. Could you imagine the CFDA dress with a bra? I would slice my throat. I already wanted to, for wearing a thong that wasn’t bedazzled. That’s the only regret I have in my life.” Wearing a thong that wasn’t bedazzled is your greatest regret in life? “To the CFDA Awards. Yes.”
Becoming the first black woman to represent Dior: “I was already proud to be a Dior woman, but to be a black Dior woman and the first: It did something else for me.”
Unisex clothes & feminism: “I always wanted to do what my brothers were doing. I always wanted to play the games they played and play rough and wear pants and go outside. Women feel empowered when they can do the things that are supposed to be only for men, you know? It breaks boundaries, it’s liberating, and it’s empowering when you feel like, Well, I can do that, too.”
The interview is split up between cities and weeks in LA and NYC. I liked the mood of the LA part of the interview, and Vogue notes that Rihanna was “sipping Pinot Grigio from Dixie cups.” Which is an amazing detail. I love the CFDA stuff, and I like what she says about empowerment, etc. And I do think her schedule was and is crazy, but that’s on her – she was the one scheduling the tour and the album drop and all of that.
Am I the only side-eying her answer on Beyonce and “Formation” though? Rihanna sort of tweeted some shade at Bey earlier this month seems to indicate that, at the very least, she has a healthy sense of competition with Beyonce. “And that’s just not what I wake up to. Because I can only do me. And nobody else is going to be able to do that”… I don’t know. I’m a world-class parser and this just feels oddly worded but I can’t figure out what’s bugging me. I guess it’s what she didn’t say – she could have said, “I’m tight with Beyonce” or “two women can succeed without tearing each other down.” But she didn’t say that.
Photos courtesy of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott/VOGUE.
I could look at her all day every day on covers. She’s stunning but that has that certain something and edge that translates beautifully in photographs.
Yes, she’s one of the most photogenic people in the world!
+123
Yes, she’s always glorious — and I love the fact she takes chances on fashion. She obviously knows there is absolutely nothing she could put on that could possibly make her look bad! 😀
She’s stunning thanks to her nose job.
She really is.
She really is. These pictures are stunning.
I think every magazine cover she does are stunning, she really photographs well & the designers love her.
Yep, she looks absolutely amazing in that golden dress!
that’s right, she would look good even with a potato sack. So stunning!
agree. she’s just so interesting to look at- beautiful skin, eyes, body.
You still want a beef that never existed… its something people and media blogs want to exist…and for 101th if you actually followed you would realize the tweet was not about Beyonce…Why does have to be tight with Beyonce, She basically saying i don’t care what Beyonce is doing coz She Beyonce and i do Rihanna. You cant spend your day worrying about what someone else id doing.
Is Rihanna under some kind of obligation to be tight with Beyonce? Cause if they aren’t friends or even close, why would she say “we’re good, we’re close”? Her answer was good and peope create this feud, both Rihanna and Beyonce have space and fans and Rih seems more accessible than Bey.
Exactly. Maybe they’re not tight and she doesn’t have to lie to convince other people that they’re not “beefing”. Her answer was fine.
Exactly. Why would she say, “I’m tight with Beyoncé” if she’s not? She doesn’t have to be tight with her to not have a problem with her.
In the world of celebrities, tabloids, and fan wars, two women who do the same thing for a living and get compared to each other being less than friends always seems to mean that they’re enemies and one of them is either a Jealous Mean Girl or a Man Stealer.
Why do two women in the same industry have to have beef?
I don’t think RiRi and Beyonce are more than biz friends. I don’t think Beyonce is comfortable enough with younger talent to ever let Ri get closer. That is not the same as having drama with her.
They share a skin tone but they are from different countries.
They may be tight…they may not be. Either way what’s she’s saying is the Beyonce can do Beyonce and Rihanna can be the best version of herself. Nicki says the same thing all the time as well. Nothing wrong with that
I agree with u Kaiser, it is oddly worded and almost a throw down.
I’ll add that I’m neither Hive nor Navy. I enjoy both women.
Beyonce is an incredible live performer.
Rihanna’s singles are always greatly on point.
That gold dress is to die for.
Came here to say the same thing. I never comment about fashion (here or anywhere, even IRL), but it stopped my scroll dead in its mouse track. Only Rihanna really has that effect.
I just read about Brie Larson crying over how much she loved her gold Golden Globes dress. Now I can’t even remember anything about it. What Lainey said about Rihanna and STYLE is so spot-on.
+1 Looks so good on her
Loving it too and the photo is striking too. She’s such a beauty.
Givenchy 2016 Spring collection
It really is.
I know the media is hung up on some Beyonce Rihanna beef, but there are pictures of Rihanna playing with Blue Ivy while Beyonce looks on at more than a few events—if nothing else, I doubt Beyonce would be so laid back if the various rumors were true. Besides, it is like the media always wants to cook up some imaginary beef between female artists because they think “ladies catfight” sells…while cooing over male “friendships.” Besides, Beyonce and Rihanna seem like very different individuals…I doubt they are bffs but that doesn’t mean they are enemies.
*I do think actors, etc. occasionally through shade but the Rihanna Beyonce beef seems more like it’s based on the fact that they are successful young black women that the media wants to pit against one another.
It’s like Seinfeld when they’re talking about ‘cat fights’ and how men really like them because there’s a chance the women will kiss and make up, lol.
I disagree. People do use kids as a “distraction” to keep from interacting with their parents. I see it at certain family reunions all the time. I also think that Beyonce is far too staid to rock the boat in situations like that. Kaiser is right, that quote is shady. As someone who had to unfollow this girl on twitter a few years ago over how petty she could get, I can confirm that she really doesnt deserve the benefit of the doubt. Her fans enable her pettiness imho.
I’ll personally never forgive her for that shamelessly racist “rice cake” lyric. All because she was “competing” against a girl for a dbags attention. The sheer silliness required to do the stuff she did over a man who posted a video to the world saying he was still in love with his recent ex (who she helped cheat on) is insane.
It’s quite intresting that everyone is making karreuche a victim when she started the beef ! She made a video making fun of rihannas accent and taking her “man” aka cracky (chris). She also used to shade Rihanna on Twitter on how she is so trashy and bunch of other stuff. After that did Rihanna and her friends clapback which she deserved. Oh let’s not forget karreuche making fun of blue ivy’s natural hair. The only racist is karreuche. Here is a link of the video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CTT5qXxds7k
Yikes, I had no idea that Rihanna did a rice cake racist thing. Ugh. Also didn’t realize she was that petty.
BET writers wrote a joke about Blue Ivy , she apologized for reading it.Personally I can see Tran and RiRi being friendly.They both got rid of that F#ckboy Chris Brown and hopefully neither will look back again.
Karrueche is not victim in this, she and her friends started it rihanna finished it. Don’t come for her unless she sends for you lol.
She used to be so petty and shady but nowadays she isn’t anymore. She’s grown so much.
Do not be ridiculous. You mean because they mocked a song when she was running around with a dbag who still refused to drop his gf. THAT justifies flinging a racist slur in both song and tweet? GTFOH. Only in Riri land would something that disgusting find (weak!) justification. That moment shows a petty bigoted woman desperately clinging to a dbag who views her as nothing but a public conquest….and I’m being polite.
@Naya That’s funny because I would never attempt to bond with a kid whose parents I don’t like. When my sister-in-law had a kid she and her husband acted like I was supposed to be go gaga over the baby. I did not. She persistently mean-girled me when her parents tried to break her brother and me up because I’m black and has never owned up/apologized, so, no, I will not be playing with her baby to make family gatherings smoother.
Then they’re both wrong.
@WTW: Wow. That’s a mess (on their part, not yours).
I feel very old (and that’s possibly because I am) but how is this woman relevant? I remember a song of hers from many years ago and then… nothing.
Seriously? Her last number 1 was, like, 5 minutes ago and she’s had a boatload of them lol Trust me, she’s far from irrelevant 🙂
You definitely old coz you missed the part where she had 14 # 1 sold 54 million album and 211million singles , Had one first animated black character movies which grossed over 300million, sells the most magazines, First woman for Dior and currently the number single in the country. These definately would count as accomplishments and the reason why she is relevant
http://40.media.tumblr.com/985b8cd431aec874c6e7523501b5064c/tumblr_n0nw18UA991stv0wno1_1280.jpg
that’s all I can think of when I see her or hear her music…
Her recent hit goes something like “wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah!” to a slow dance hall sound. You cant miss it, although you will probably want to put something through your ear.
Ummmm, very relevant. She is super popular in fashion and music. She has a new album and currently touring. Her collaboration with Puma is doing gangbusters and selling out. She just announced a shoe collaboration with Manolo Blahnik. Model for Dior. She’s currently on tour. Also, I think she had a kids animated movie come out last summer.
She has more #1 singles than Michael Jackson.So good or bad that makes her relevant.
Love this girl. So beautiful and unique. People have always tried to make out like she and Beyoncé had some sort of beef, bs. The only thing they have in common is Jay. I think hands down, Rihanna is a better performer. Beyoncé is arrogant (to me, calm down Beyhive), while Rihanna is confident. Can’t recall any failures, other than Fist Brown.
Rihanna a better performer than Beyoncé? Are you sure you’ve seen Rihanna perform?
you, my dear, are reaching. There’s a reason why her tours are not selling out despite having a number 1 single out right now. Seriously, she had to downgrade 50k capacity stadiums to arenas and still can’t fill them up. Her tickets are going for $10 dollars on Craigslist right now and no one is still buying them. Her album is barely 3 months old but is sitting at #12 on worldwide iTunes while Beyoncé’s over 2 years album is sitting at #16. After 2 years. You can get away with saying anything about these women but never this one
Rihanna girllll, you lyin. No beef huh? That’s why your twitter favourites is filled with shady tweets by your fans about Karrueche, Ciara, and yes Beyoncé.
One sided beef….
You are reaching . She is playing 9 stadiums . Her tour in Jacksonville made over a million and thats a small market. She just sold 5 staduims which six months away. She cancelled then added dates. Wait for boxoffice receipts before you start posting stuff you read on twitter. She just sold out San Siro over 40000 only other artist to do so was Madonna
where is the reach please? She initially scheduled 17 stadiums. Even Sunderland shaded her when she cancelled. She didn’t sell out Jacksonville because I was there and that was no sell out. She grossed $1mil for that venue? Then if you do the math you’ll see that she won’t Crack 100mil which artists of her calibre should be easily doing. I’m waiting for boxscore receipts tho. I don’t need to read stuff on twitter cos I’m on ticketmaster right now trying to purchase for Formation World Tour. If you filter out secondary resellers, you’ll still find empty seats on almost all of her stops.
You are right ..she wont do 100mil we wait and see right!
During her last world tour she sold out “stade de France” by herself, while Beyonce+ Jayz+ Nicki couldn’t sell out. All her concerts for this world tour so far have been sold out.
how much did the France tickets cost? Had Beyoncé ever performed there? Guess who sold out Wembley Stadium twice? She has a show in Nashville tonight which is far from being sold out and it’s going for $10. For comparison, Beyonce’s Nashville show (same stadium) is sold out and has grossed $4mil. Do you now see the difference? people would rather pay $300 per ticket to see Bey than to see Rih for $10.
Based on the fact that the tickets are $10 we shoule expect boxoffice to be around $14000 for Jacksonville or other places we will wait for boxoffice results
not all. They’re going for that amount so the venues will be full. Better slash them prices than have empty seats. Tidal is giving away some of them too on twitter. Rina, that is just not true. Actually none has officially been reported as sold out. Boxscore needs to come through
I’ve gotta say, I am impressed as HELL that you Beyoncé and Rihanna fans know SO many statistics about your fave performers! Really! My word, I don’t do that much research about my bank or car loans. LAK and others know ALL about royalty and manners and jewelry, and you gals can be our music EXPERTS! Even if you don’t agree, I learned a lot reading this to respect both performers.
@everybody! To each their own. Rihanna’s stats speak for themselves and she certainly doesn’t need me to defend her. @Gisy: my “dear” you can’t stand under my umbrella, ella ella, ella….lol….btw what’s a Karueche?
Can you link me to where i can buy her tickets for $10 cuz i just purchased 200 level seating for $170 on ticket master for her barclays show & i just googled this $10 ticket thing so i can buy another ticket for my sister & no such thing exists
In my Rihianna stan days, I would have agreed with that statement. I have since seen her in concert two times and both times I regretted it. I can’t drink the Kool-aid anymore, her concerts are terrible. After seeing her live TWICE, I still wouldn’t pay $10 to see her again.
That’s the funniest thing I have heard this week.I love RiRi but she is an average singer,average dancer blessed with great producers.She is not a great performer.
Beyoncé’s the better singer though (to me).
She look beautiful. I like Beyoncé and Rihanna .. I honestly don’t see a beef but I don’t think thier friends… I mean they seem like two very different people to me and both successful in thier own right
I think there is definitely tension between bey and rih. And we’ve all picked up on it lol
They do two very similar things but seem like two very different people. Sometimes you just don’t click.
However publicly “liking” beyonce is a big deal in Hollywood for some reason. Idk if that because of her fan base or if she’s just that powerful but ask anyone to talk about someone they kinda don’t like and it gets. ….awkward.
Am I the only one who thinks her face looks off in that photo?
The second one, right? She looks beautiful on the cover though.
Yes, very off. Don’t like the whole shoot. Does nothing for her.
She can’t say there’s no beef when her former management pretty much admitted planting stories. They’ve been pitted in the media since Pon De Replay and she has bought into since. Take a walk through her twitter faves and keep scrolling.
I attended her show in Jacksonville some days ago cos my friends got her tickets for free and we only had to pay $10 for the bus and it was a mess. She was out of breath after a song. if she were a good performer, she would put on a good show seeing as she’s not moving tickets so as to sell out at least one show but she phoned it in. Madonna got by without talent. Beyoncé, she is not. She should be striving to outdo herself but she’s just lazy. And she lied about said show being sold out cos there were empty seats
I have YET to see a photo or magazine cover that she didn’t slay on.
I honestly don’t think that Bey and Rih worry about each other. But people want there to be beef so they try to find it anywhere they can…
The beef to me is with fans and the hive is the worst. I honestly think they are not friends because they are two very different people
Agreed. I don’t think they’re friends but I do think they’re cordial. The fans make it worse than what it really is.
I like both of them, they’re very different performers. I think I like Lainey’s description of them, that being said Twitter gets off on putting them both like they’re the worst of enemies. They don’t have to be friends & sure they can be competitive but that doesn’t mean they hate each other.
The Navy isn’t any better. They both are made up of some of the most unhinged people on the planet. I would throw Gaga and Swifty fans in there too.
I don’t think there is much of an issue. I think they are acquaintances and different but maybe compete some though not in an ugly way. They live completely different lifestyles.
Rihanna, the only girl in the world who would want to wear bedazzled thongs, can’t imagine that on my ass. I LOVE her.
I like her #Anti album, kiss it better, love on the brain, consideration and desperado are my shit.
Love on the brain, Consideration and Desperado are on repeat on my playlist.
Same for me!!! Work kinda gets into your brain after a few plays too, i’m willing to admit that more after watching the vids lol
WORD.
Number 1 song four weeks in a row and still there.
Her best album in my view.
Campaigns from Dior to Puma.
WERK.
GAWD this Bitch is just stunning to look at!! I mean, never a bad pc or a dull interview cause that CFDA bit Is GLORY!!!! the fact so many people still tut tut about that and she is like “my only regret is that i didn’t look more naked on you hoes” is Just…. I love her
My only surprise is that there is so much overlap between the celebitchy audience and the Navy.
Frankly I surprised that the hive and navy are at again here. Say what you will but the woman is stunning and obvious very relevant t
I thin Ashwara Ray (sorry I don’t know how to spell her name) and Rihanna are the two most gorgeous and photogenic women on the planet. SO stunning!!
I can say without a doubt that she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. Love her face, her features. Everything looks amazing on her.
I don’t know all the facts, but I just want to point out how ridiculous and messed up it is to try to pin two successful black women against each other, as if it isn’t hard enough to make it in their industry. People need to stop.
Rihanna is insanely gorgeous.
Another Face that is a gift. And that body…DAMN. I mean. come on. This woman is an amazing model. I like alot of her music, and I appreciate her style. She owns everything.
She’s so stunning,wow!! Good for you,rihanna.There’s no beef between her and beyonce,pitting two successful black women against each other is so redundant. Her anti album is everything,love on the brain,desperado and kiss it better are the standouts.
Kaiser, if you’re waiting for a strong club/pop banger from Riri on this album, you’re going to be disappointed. There really aren’t any strong singles on Anti. That said, there are two things you should know about it.
First, the rest of the album really sounds nothing like Work. So, if you didn’t like Work, that doesn’t mean you won’t like Anti. Work has grown on me, but it definitely feels like a track they threw onto an otherwise cohesive album simply so that they could have a dance song to send to radio. It doesn’t represent the feel of the album at all.
Second, I think the rest of the album is stellar. It’s got a very defined mood to it. I can totally understand why some people wouldn’t like it, but it’s worth giving a shot. If you actually sit down and listen to the whole thing from start to finish, it makes a lot of sense musically. It’s the first Rihanna album I’ve ever been able to listen to the whole way through!
On another note, can everyone please just let go of the drama with Karrueche? Neither of them have been dating Fist Brown in over a year. Let them live! At this point, I seriously think the Navy is more invested in hating on Karrueche than Rihanna herself. Smh
I just came here to say how much I loved Anti. Is she a great artist now? No, and probably will never be, but this time she managed to have only one crappy song in the whole album, which is Work. Love on the brain, Consideration, Same ol’ mistakes and James Joint are to die for.