At this point, Rihanna’s comment replies deserve their own category on the Billboard charts. The latest entry came after someone told her to focus on her home country, and she answered like a woman who has never lost an argument she cared about.
Earlier this week, we posted a clip of political commentator Joy Reid talking with journalist Charles M. Blow about Donald Trump becoming the 47th president. Reid said in the clip that America got its just desserts and argued that a majority of white Americans wanted an unfiltered Trump presidency. Rihanna caught wind of the clip and dropped by to leave a comment. She said, “And believe it or not, those who didn’t vote at all, also did this!”
That reply is what made one user comment back to RiRi, “Maybe in Barbados but here in the states the electoral congress elects the president… focus on ya country sis,” they wrote. Electoral congress? Sir, ma’am, it’s the Electoral College, and the internet noticed. Of course Rihanna didn’t flinch. The Bajan billionaire clapped back and said, “Only if you would focus more on yours!” she fired back, and then she went for the jugular. “We would gladly lend y’all @mamottley for even just A WEEK!!!” That’s a direct tag of Mia Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados, and the shade has history behind it. Mottley was the one who named Rihanna a National Hero of Barbados when the island became a republic. Translation: our leader would fix your whole situation in seven days, and we’d even let you borrow her for free.
Rihanna also reminder the IG user that she “Still gotta focus on the country I’m raising my kids in, nutty.” And that right there is the checkmate.
Rihanna has three children, two sons and a daughter, with her partner A$AP Rocky, and they’re growing up under whatever gets decided in Washington. You can’t tell a mother to ignore the government running her babies’ world. The reply earned 352 likes, more than four times the original comment, and the thread still shows dozens of replies underneath.
If you’ve been watching, none of this is a surprise. Last election season, she posted a reel joking about sneaking into the polls with her son’s passport, tagged #VoteCauseICant. When a follower came for her citizenship then, she said she was an immigrant trying to get their country together. Same energy, different comment section.
Underneath the jokes is a point plenty of people overlook. Millions of immigrants and long-term residents pay taxes, run businesses, and raise families here without a ballot, and their lives still run through decisions made in Washington. Rihanna isn’t claiming a vote she doesn’t have. She’s claiming a voice, and she clearly has no plans to hand it back.
Period RiRi!