Rihanna brought her empire home with the launch of her Fenty brand in Barbados, and here’s why fans think she hinted at retirement from music: “God had other plans,” she said.
Source: Neil Mockford / Getty
The Bajan baddie traded in back-to-back hits on the charts for Rih-lentless Fenty flourishing the past few years. On Nov. 7, it was a full-circle moment as Rihanna launched her brand in Barbados. Now, the Caribbean will have access to Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, and the Fenty Eau de Parfum fragrance.
During a speech to mark the momentous occasion, fans thought she hinted at moving on to bigger and better things after her epic music career.
“I always say music was the thing that got the attention, but God had other plans for me,” she said.
That’s beautiful, but the way fans are starving for R9, they might send one of Latto’s shirts up to Big Sandals. Some are just happy she’s happy, while others are begging, “Don’t Stop The Music!”
“I was able to create in other ways that were very sincere, genuine, organic and authentic to the things that I love so it doesn’t even feel like a job. But when you bring it home,” she said to a cheering crowd, “I can express to you guys what this day means for me to be able to celebrate with the people that deserve it the most.”
Rihanna credited her Caribbean home with propelling her to the next level with strength and grace. She also said her home inspired all of the creativity behind her brand. The beauty mogul got emotional about how special it is to bring her hard work and success to her people.
On the red carpet, it was a family affair with Rihanna in the middle.
While the event marked a major milestone for the Anti singer, she didn’t completely close the door on music just yet. After recently naming her dream collaborator, Rihanna doubled down on why they’d make beautiful music together.
Read more about Rihanna’s homecoming with Fenty and which artist makes her want to get back in the booth after the flip!
Rihanna Rih-flects On Bringing Fenty Home To The Caribbean, Why She Wants To Collab With Billie Eilish & What’s Next For Her
The night was about pretty much everything except her long-awaited return to music. Still, the note about God’s “other plans” seemed to confirm suspicions that the Bad Gal isn’t returning to the booth anytime soon. Between securing the billion-dollar bag and beautiful babies with A$AP Rocky, she sounds too booked, busy, and blissful for much else these days. However, Rihanna did explain why she named Billie Eilish as her dream collaboration.
In an interview with Access Hollywood, Rihanna opened up about what the Fenty Caribbean launch means to her.
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“It’s very sentimental. It’s deeper. It means so much more, because this is the land that I was birthed on. This is the region, the entire Caribbean, we wear every Caribbean island on our back,” she told Scott Evans.
“We are rooting for the Caribbean always. And for me to come back home and launch a line that was inspired by my hometown from the jump, my first sight and idea of beauty was right here. So to be able to have the Barbadian people and the Caribbean people to have access to my line as freely as the rest of the world does, there’s so much pride that comes with that and it just feels right and it feels … about time,” she continued.
The new mom of two boys, RZA and Riot, would love to add a little girl to their family, but she’s not in a hurry anytime soon. She’s still busy with the holidays and creating new family traditions. With Halloween out of the way, it’s almost time for Thanksgiving in the U.S. with Rocky’s family. After that, Rih is ready for an all-Black Christmas!
“All of the characters are Black. Black Santas, Black nutcrackers, Black elves and we’re just gonna continue to make sure that they see themselves in whatever tradition that we create,” she said.
Despite the disappointment and debates sparked by Rihanna’s speech, she hasn’t announced retirement just yet. In fact, she doubled down on her desire to collaborate with Billie Eilish. The creative invitation went viral last month and put the “Munch” star in shock!
“Billie Eilish is the most anti, coolest girl ever. In my mind, she doesn’t listen to commercial music, you know? I feel like she’s just creating her diary vocally,” she gushed about her fellow Grammy winner. “You can just feel that she’s zoned in to who she is and what she’s experiencing and what she’s feeling, even if she doesn’t know what it is.”
Maybe the Navy’s chances of new Rihanna music haven’t sunk just yet. And Billie would make an exciting partner in crime and collaboration. Until that happens, her next releases will be the Fenty holiday bundles and, hopefully, more adorable family photos.
Congratulations to Rihanna on bringing Fenty home to Barbados and putting on for the Caribbean!