When Rihanna and ASAP Rocky started dating, few people could imagine their story would
include pregnancy, cheating rumors, a fashion revolution, and an arrest.
However, the musicians' relationship stands strong despite all the challenges and has
become an example of how things not done the traditional way can still be amazing.
Rihanna first collaborated with ASAP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers,
on her 2013 single "Cockiness". That same year, he joined the singer as the opening
act on her "Diamonds World Tour" American leg. The pair maintained a friendship over the years,
denying rumors that they were together every once in a while. They stayed friends
when Rihanna started dating billionaire Hassan Jameel and Rocky dated Kendall Jenner in 2017.
Riri and the billionaire were first linked when they were spotted making out on holiday in Spain.
However, Hassan is not the singer's most known relationship. In 2007,
the Barbados native started dating musician Chris Brown. Two years later, the couple
split after Chris brutally assaulted Rihanna on their way home from a party. Brown pleaded
guilty and had to complete probation, community service, and domestic violence counselling.
The tragic story seemed over, but fans and the media got increasingly worried in 2013 when the
"Umbrella" singer reunited with Chris. After a few months, they separated for good.
Rihanna opened up to Vanity Fair years later,
saying she realized she didn't deserve to be in that kind of relationship. The star also
said that even though she knows domestic abuse is a serious thing that should be discussed,
being constantly asked about it was like "being punished over and over."
Rihanna has been able to move past that traumatic night. As for ASAP's relationship with Kendall,
it is luckily far less tragic. The pair were first linked in 2016 when they were spotted on
dates all over the world. They confirmed their relationship through a Snapchat at the 2017 MET
Gala. The social media post stirred some drama since Rocky had been involved in a secretive
on-and-off relationship with actress Tahiry Jose around the time he began dating Kendall.
A friend of Jose told Hollywoodlife.com that the actress broke down after Rocky
and Jenner's relationship was confirmed. Rihanna and Rakim continued their friendship
through all this relationship drama. They attended shows and fashion awards together.
Riri also invited the rapper to her 2018 and 2019 Diamond Balls!
In early 2020, Rihanna and Jameel split. A source told People Magazine that the
two were "not a good match". The person also said, "Their lives were too different
and it was hard to maintain a relationship." Soon, the rumors that Rihanna and Rocky were
seeing each other rose to the surface. The rapper was also single at the time,
since his relationship with Jenner had not lasted very long due to their conflicting schedules.
A source told The Sun that the two musicians had shared a hotel suite during a trip to New York.
"Rihanna is reluctant to put a label on it as it's so soon" the informer said. "It's really
casual between them and she's not thinking about whether there's a future with Rocky.”
However, other sources insisted that there was nothing between the music stars.
An insider told Enews, "She's hanging out with ASAP Rocky, but she is not dating him."
Meanwhile, the celebrities started working together on campaigns. In August 2020,
Rocky appeared in a video to promote Fenty Skin, one of Rihanna's companies. He opened up about
his skincare routine, saying, "You can't wash your body with the same rag you wash your face with."
The pair also starred in a GQ and Vogue video, asking each other beauty questions. The rapper
opened up about working with Rihanna, saying the hardest part was not laughing and having
too much fun. Aww, he certainly sounded smitten! With time, it became clear that the stars were
together. A source told People Magazine, "They've been inseparable the past few weeks." And it sure
seemed like it! In December 2020, ASAP joined the singer and her family in Barbados for Christmas.
The pair even went on a romantic cruise on Christmas Eve!
A couple of years later, Rihanna talked about introducing Rocky to her mother during a Vogue
interview. She confessed that her mom was very good at reading people, which is why she disliked
some of the guys Riri had previously dated. "She was charmed by him from the jump," the
singer shared. It certainly is a good sign! The visit was also emotional for Rocky,
since his father had emigrated to the United States from Barbados.
In a GQ interview, the rapper explained that there was something familiar about the country,
even if he had never been there before. "There was something nostalgic about it," he said.
Thanks to an anonymous informer, US Weekly was able to disclose more adorable details about the
couple's relationship. "ASAP has been very into Rihanna for years," the source said. Apparently,
the rapper was always the instigator when it came to flirting, but Riri never let it go further.
"Things changed over the summer and they finally hooked up. They've been
together ever since," the person continued. Rocky did seem very smitten, especially after his
interview with GQ came out in May 2021. He called the Grammy Award winner "The love of my life" and
"My lady". He also explained that his life had improved since he found Rihanna before adding,
"I think when you know, you know. She's the One." The romance continued blossoming, and the couple
was visibly happy. In summer 2021, a source told People Magazine "They are crazy about each other."
The person explained that the romance was built on respect because the stars were friends for a long
time before dating. The musicians also loved to laugh together even before they became involved.
"All of that makes for a solid romance now." In January 2022, fans of the couple received a
delightful surprise: Rihanna and ASAP Rocky were expecting! The news broke after the singer walked
through New York City with a HUGE baby bump! An exclusive informer told People Magazine,
"She couldn't be happier and is so excited to be a mom." The insider also claimed that
the singer loved all the changes in her body. It makes sense since she has always celebrated
pregnant women in her runway Fenty shows! The source also added, "They're just the cutest,
giddiest young couple that's expecting kids." The stars were so excited about their future
firstborn that they decided to have a secret baby shower. However, instead of a traditional
celebration, they decided to do things their own way and host a "rave-themed” shower.
They even gave the guests t-shirts! And since the occasion was so special, Rihanna flew out
some family and friends from Barbados. In April, Riri opened up to Vogue about
her experiences with pregnancy. The singer had become a fashion icon for pregnant women
because she had decided to do her own thing and not wear maternity clothing,
revolutionizing the conservative way pregnancy is often portrayed. "It's too much fun to get dressed
up. I'm not going to let that part disappear because my body is changing,” she stated.
The Grammy Award winner talked about not planning her pregnancy. She confessed to not knowing when
she ovulated and said she and Rocky "just had fun." The star opened up further about doing
things in a non-traditional way. "I always thought it would be marriage first, then a baby, but who
the fuck says it has to be that way," she said. The "S&M" singer shared that her initial
friendship with the rapper made her doubt having a relationship with him.
"People don't get out of the friend zone very easily with me," Rihanna told the magazine.
However, as the years went by, she let her guard down. During Covid lockdown, the "We found love"
singer realized how important ASAP was to her. "He became my family during that time," she
confessed. Since then, their relationship has grown stronger. "I just feel like I can do any
part of life by his side," Rihanna added. The star's declarations were especially
important because April 2022 was a hard month for the couple. A rumor started on the internet,
saying that Rihanna had left ASAP after catching him cheating with Amina Muaddi, one of her brand's
show designers. The musicians didn't say anything about the gossip themselves, even after it became
viral. However, a source close to the couple told TMZ that the rumors were "100 percent not true."
Muaddi grew sick of the online speculation and decided to deny the story herself on her
Instagram. The designer explained that she doesn't think social media lies deserve to
be given importance. However, she decided to speak out because the accusations were related to people
she had "great amounts of respect and affection for." The person who first tweeted the rumor
ended up apologizing, describing his tweets as "reckless" and adding "I have no excuse for it."
His Twitter account is now deleted. As if the cheating rumors weren't enough,
the couple also had to deal with Rocky's arrest. The hip-hop star was accused of
firing a handgun at a former friend in late 2021. In August, ASAP pleaded not guilty.
This isn't the musician's first problem with the law. He has been arrested several times.
The most important one happened in Sweden in 2019 after he allegedly committed gross assault.
The police decided to hold him in custody for two weeks as they investigated the claims.
Rocky's manager complained that his client was being held in a "horrific" facility and
was in solitary confinement 24/7. This led to a social media movement called #JusticeforRocky.
In the end, he was found guilty, but the judge decided prison time wasn't necessary.
Rihanna has stayed at Rocky's side during his legal battle and continues
to be supportive of him. One month after Rocky's arrest, the couple's child was born.
A Source told US Weekly, "They both feel very blessed and couldn't be happier."
Although Rakim and Rihanna have not followed the traditional dating rules,
they seem incredibly happy. Here at Rumour Juice, we wish the new family many more years of bliss.