Here we take a closer look at the lives and experiences of some of Rihanna's close friends and collaborators. From Rihanna's protective stance on her child's privacy to Beyoncé's defiance against industry pressures, this collection delves into the personal and professional journeys of influential figures like Katy Perry, Cara Delevingne, Adele, Jay-Z, Jim Parsons, Cate Blanchett, Slick Woods, Bella Hadid, and Gigi Hadid. These narratives offer insights into their careers, well-being, and the meaningful relationships they share with the iconic Rihanna, revealing a diverse range of perspectives and experiences in the world of entertainment and beyond.
1. Rihanna
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Rihanna opened up about her life and career in an interview with Vogue. She says that she wants to protect her children from paparazzi and the public eye. “Throw me to the wolves. Do what you want with me. But he doesn’t have a say in any of this. We’ve been protecting him thus far and you don’t have any consent to be posting photos or selling photos of my child, a minor. Get the hell out of here with that.”
2. Beyonce
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Beyonce and Rihanna have been friends for years. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Beyonce talked about her career and life. She says that she doesn’t like people dictating her career. “I remember being in a meeting discussing analytics, and I was told the research discovered that my fans did not like when my photography was black and white. They told me I wouldn’t sell if it wasn’t in color. That was ridiculous. It pissed me off that an agency could dictate what my fans wanted based on a survey. Who did they ask? How is it possible to generalize people this much? Are these studies accurate? Are they fair? Are all the people I’m trying to uplift and shine a light on included? They’re not.”
3. Katy Perry
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Rihanna and Katy Perry have been friends for years. The “Teenage Dream” singer shared to Prevention.com that she loves Transcendental Meditation. “It clears my head completely. And it ignites something in my brain. I get some of my best creative ideas when I’m TM’ing. For me, TM has been anxiety-reducing, depression-reducing, great for jet lag, hangovers, mood swings. Anytime I’m in a funky mood, I’m like, ‘give me 20 minutes.’”
4. Cara Delevigne
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Rihanna is close friends with Cara Delevigne. The model has appeared in several of Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty shows. Delevigne revealed in an interview that she suffered a suicidal period in her life. She says that having supportive people surround her got her out of this. “It’s about finding people around you who have your best interests at heart. [...] It’s about finding people who care about you and support you. And I’ve now been able to become a support for other people, as well."
5. Adele
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Adele and Rihanna have been friends for years. Adele works with trainer Pete Geracimo to keep herself in shape. Geracimo opened up about the singer’s wellness routine on Instagram. “When 25 dropped and the tour announced, we had to get ready for a 13 month grueling schedule. In that time, she warmed to training and made better food choices. As a result, she lost considerable weight and people took notice.”
6. Jay-Z
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Jay-Z is not only friends with Rihanna, he discovered her. In an interview withCBS News, the rapper talked about wanting to make a difference. “I think what matters most is, today, is, being a beacon and helping out… my culture. People of color. I think I pull the most satisfaction from that. Like making music earlier was, like—my first love. I could sit there for hours. It consumed me. Just finding words and figuring out words and how to say this and different ways to say that and different pockets and melodies and how to write this song. That consumed me. That’s why my pace was so fast. I had so much material… And I think now, you know, the idea of, of taking that platform and, you know, reproducing it for others or doing something like Reform… I think I derive the most joy from that.”
7. Jim Parsons
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Jim Parsons worked with Rihanna on the 2015 animated film, Home. In an interview with The AV Club, Parsons talked about playing gay characters. “It wasn't so much a conscious choice as it was the material and the people offering material that the last five to 10 years started fitting into that. I’ve kind of responded to each uniquely and separately and wasn’t necessarily looking to build some sort of ladder like this. But I will tell you that it has surprised me, the fulfilling level of growth and realizations about myself as an actor and about myself as a gay man that I’ve had getting to play these varied homosexuals in film and TV, in things like this. And going back to what we were just saying, I do feel there are ways in which I’ve reached a momentary apex of that. Because not only are these interesting people-slash-characters in an extraordinary circumstance, but it’s flexible. We really get to watch them exist together and the small, intimate conversations they have together and these little stolen moments, whether it’s the stuff in bed or whatever. It feels very rich to me, personally and artistically.”
8. Cate Blanchett
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Cate Blanchett worked with Rihanna on the film Ocean’s 8. In an interview with The Coveteur, Blanchett talked about getting in shape for the film Thor: Ragnarok, and revealed she worked with Chris Hemsworth’s trainer. “It was hideous. It was horrendous. It was a hardcore cardio and weights circuit, but it only lasted 20 minutes because he had to fit it in between scenes. But it was great, I actually wanted to get up at six in the morning and work with him for 20 minutes before the kids woke up, if you can believe it. It sounds bizarre. I’m not doing that at the moment, but I really do want to get back to it.”
9. Slick Woods
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Slick Woods and Rihanna are close friends. Woods has modeled in the Savage X Fenty show. In an interview with CNN, the model talked about wanting to help others and revealed that she and her best friend work with community organizers. “Beauty is about who you are – it’s what we do with our time – giving what you don’t even have,” Woods said. “I’m already up here. The least I can do is help somebody.”
10. Bella Hadid
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Bella Hadid has walked in several Savage X Fenty shows. She shared some of her wellness secrets with Harper’s Bazaar. “I try to drink as much water, and get as much sleep, as I can. We’re on the go so much that it’s hard to eat clean, but I always feel better when I do. I also always make sure I have a Kin [a non-alcoholic ‘functional beverage’] in my hand to keep me feeling balanced and help stabilise my mood, calm my stress and give me that burst of energy I need.”
11. Gigi Hadid
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Gigi Hadid has also walked in several of Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty shows. She told W Magazine that she changed her work schedule after having her first child. “I started thinking about a more stabilized work schedule, where I wasn’t having to fly to a different country every week. I wanted something where I could go to the same office every day. I’d never had that. I could have a schedule with a child, and then be able to base my work life around that.”