Rihanna fans confused after singer reveals how to properly pronounce her name in viral video
Rihanna’s fans have just discovered how the singing star says her own name - and some of them are very confused.
The revelation caused uproar on Twitter when she said her name in a video posted by Vogue, from her Fenty pop-up store in Paris.
In the video, she says, “Hello British Vogue, it's Rihanna,” pronouncing her name 'Ree-Anna', the way British fans tend to, rather than 'Ree-Ah-Na', which is mostly the American pronounciation.
Read more: Rihanna reveals she's moved to London and fans can barely contain their excitement
Confused fans gathered on Twitter to discuss the video. One tweeter broke the news to everyone else with the Vogue video, saying: “rihanna is the one pronouncing her own name wrong lmao.”
You’ve been pronouncing Rihanna’s name wrong this whole time https://t.co/LCsdjNHlFm
— Hot Boy Lee 🥵 (@SheabuttrPapi) May 30, 2019
This tweeter makes a good point about how Rihanna fans ought to know the true pronunciation by now: “rihanna has been in the game for 16 years and just now yall realize yall been saying her name wrong? i- [gif].”
rihanna has been in the game for 16 years and just now yall realize yall been saying her name wrong? i- pic.twitter.com/GvgM1UFivh
— ♊🌫 𝔧𝔬𝔫𝔞𝔰 (@believeitsjonas) May 30, 2019
This tweeter made it very clear that it’s American fans getting Rihanna’s name wrong: “I’ve noticed this and this tweet reiterates it: only Americans don’t know how to say Rihanna’s name. I don’t know HOW you guys be getting it wrong but damn.”
I’ve noticed this and this tweet reiterates it: only Americans don’t know how to say Rihanna’s name. I don’t know HOW you guys be getting it wrong but damn. https://t.co/wunvlyLqCc
— K.🇯🇲 (@KhadijahJameela) May 30, 2019
Read more: Rihanna sues father over use of Fenty name for his talent business
The correct pronunciation of Rihanna’s name has long been a point of contention on the internet.
Back in 2013, Rihanna’s own mother, Monica Braithwaite, pronounced it onstage during the American Music Awards with the ‘ah’, prompting this tweet: “You've probably been saying Rihanna's name wrong this whole time.”
You've probably been saying Rihanna's name wrong this whole time. http://t.co/2EpjjVaGki
— Nolan Feeney (@NolanFeeney) November 26, 2013
By 2015, MTV News had to tell Twitter that fans had been saying Rihanna’s name incorrectly for 10 years: “Apparently we've all been saying @rihanna's name wrong for 10 years.”
Apparently we've all been saying @rihanna's name wrong for 10 years: http://t.co/UYhj76IqID
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) April 6, 2015
This fan wondered in 2017 whether the mispronunciations annoyed Rihanna: “Realized Rihanna pronounces her name Ree-ann-uh not Ree-ah-nuh & now wondering if she's annoyed almost the whole world says her name wrong.”
Realized Rihanna pronounces her name Ree-ann-uh not Ree-ah-nuh & now wondering if she's annoyed almost the whole world says her name wrong
— Bree (@Breliloquy) February 6, 2017
Fans who have been saying Rihanna’s name correctly let Twitter know of their relief.
One pleased fan said: “Phewww I have been pronouncing Rihanna’s name right all these years ! #Rihanna”
Phewww I have been pronouncing Rihanna’s name right all these years ! #Rihanna
— Charlotte Roseanna Andrasi (@CharAndrasi) May 31, 2019
One British Tweeter concluded: “This is why Rihanna moved to the UK, cause we been saying her name right this whole time.”
This is why Rihanna moved to the UK, cause we been saying her name right this whole time https://t.co/OCfpHdruDg
— R A N J ⚡️ (@ranjheran) May 31, 2019
Another said:”Not sure about the rest of you but I’ve been pronouncing her name right @rihanna maybe because I’m British.”
Not sure about the rest of you but I’ve been pronouncing her name right @rihanna maybe because I’m British
— Alex (@alexia_225) May 31, 2019
Rihanna - aka Robyn Rihanna Fenty, her name at birth - recently revealed she had been living under the radar in London for the past year, delighting her British fans.
In an interview with the New York Times, the singer said that she had moved to London to be closer her make-up company Fenty, who are based in France and Italy.
Asked what she appreciates about London, Rihanna said: “Walking around the block,” although she admitted that she has to do it in disguise.