New Delhi: Ever since global icon Rihanna arrived in India, the buzz across social media has been relentless. The singer and entrepreneur landed in Mumbai last week for the launch of her globally celebrated beauty line, Fenty Beauty, in India in partnership with Reliance Retail.
During her stay in Mumbai, Rihanna made several high-profile appearances, including an intimate luncheon hosted by the Ambani family at their iconic residence, Antilia. However, her visit was not without controversy, and some social media drama. According to multiple attendees, the singer arrived over seven hours late at Mumbai’s Phoenix Palladium mall, the venue for the Fenty Beauty event, which left many guests, mostly influencers, frustrated despite their excitement.
One of the influencers, Yashita Damani, shared her first-hand experience on Instagram, shedding light on what happened behind the scenes. She said that the event was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm on Friday, and attendees arrived on time, dressed and excited to see Rihanna. However, according to Damani, the singer only showed up at 3 am on Saturday, leaving the attendees frustrated.
According to her account, the influencers were left waiting for hours, sitting, standing, pacing, and repeatedly checking their phones. Despite growing fatigue, hunger, and confusion, most chose to stay, just because they wanted a glimpse of the star. By the time Rihanna arrived, several attendees had already left, including Damani herself. She said that for many who chose to stay, the brief interaction they ultimately received was not worth the long wait, raising questions about event management.
Some users on Instagram praised Damani for honestly speaking about the experience rather than portraying an overly glamorous version online, which others have been doing through Instagram reels.
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‘Meeting’ Rihanna
Many influencers even posted AI-generated images of themselves with Rihana. Influencer and entrepreneur Parul Gulati was one of them. Sharing the AI-generated image, she wrote, “Met queen Riri, but not quite literally; I AI-generated the image.”
Another influencer, Smriti Khanna, also shared a similar AI-generated image with Rihanna. “Met Rihanna last night and honestly, it felt like one of those ‘is this even real?’ moments. This image is actually AI-generated. I tried to capture what last night felt like, even though I couldn’t get the real picture I wanted,” Khanna’s caption read.
The event and the alleged mismanagement has sparked broader online discussions about celebrity culture and brand accountability. Many social media users pointed out that while star power draws crowds, events of this scale must prioritise professionalism and respect the attendees’ time.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)