Photo: Amy Sussman/WireImage
Rihannahas always been open about wanting a partner and a family.
“Single life is so overrated,” the singer said onThe Jonathan Ross Showin 2012. “It sucks. I have such incredible experiences in my life. You don’t want to live your life and then meet someone. You want to share your life with someone.”
She has shared her life with several famous men over the years, including a rocky relationship with singerChris Brownand a high-profile romance with rapperDrake. Though she’s dated many stars,A$AP Rockyhas captured her heart.
“A lot of guys have tried to sweep her off her feet, but A$AP actually managed to do it,” an insider told PEOPLE in January 2022. “He’sover-the-top romanticand sends her rooms full of flowers all the time. She’s never felt this way before and this relationship has changed her.”
Later that year, Rihanna gave birth to the couple’s first child, sonRZA. It was just 15 months later that she and Rockywelcomed their second child, sonRiot.
Here’s a look back at Rihanna’s dating history.
Chris Brown
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Rihanna’s first public relationship was with singerChris Brown. The pair met as teenagers early on in their music careers and soon began collaborating on music. After Rihanna’s “Umbrella” became a hit, Brown created its “Cinderella” remix, which he later performed on tour with the singer in 2008.
In February 2008, the couple werespotted getting cozyat a Grammy Awards afterparty and atRihanna’s 20th birthday party, where Brown sang “Happy Birthday” to her. At the Grammys party, Brown told PEOPLE that they were “just friends,” a sentiment that the pair repeated for the next few months. But in that time, they went on numerous dates, including to aKanye Westshow, a summer trip to Barbados and aSydney shopping spree.
However, the following February,Brown assaulted Rihannain a car hours before they were scheduled to perform at the 2009 Grammys. Rihanna called 911 and named Brown as her attacker; Brown was booked on felony criminal threats charges before posting $50,000 bail.
“They’ve been fighting a lot lately,” a source told PEOPLE at the time. “Lots of ups and downs. One second they’re all lovey-dovey and then they’re fighting like crazy.”
Brownpleaded guiltyto the felony charges on June 22, 2009, and accepted a plea deal that included community labor, five years probation and domestic violence counseling, as well as a restraining order. Rihannarecounted detailsof the incident later that year.
In October 2010, Rihanna shared that she had “felt like an empty vessel” following the assault. “I needed that wake-up call in my life,” she added. “That was the only way I would have gotten out of that relationship.”
In 2011, a judgerelaxed Brown’s restraining order, allowing the former couple to speak to each other. The next year, Rihanna and Brown sparked reconciliation rumors when they collaborated on several songs together.
Rihanna denied the rumors of a rekindled relationship toOprah Winfrey, adding that she and Brown still loved each other. However, in January 2013, Rihannaconfirmed their relationshipand defended getting back together with Brown. “I decided it was more important for me to be happy and I wasn’t going to let anybody’s opinion get in the way of that,” she said. “Even if it’s a mistake, it’s my mistake.”
Rihanna and Brown broke up for good in April 2013.
Drake
Rihanna and Drake in 2016.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rihanna first met Canadian rapperDrakewhen he was anextra in her “Pon de Replay” music video in 2005.
Though they started out as friends, their relationship turned romantic in May 2009 when the pair were spotted making out at a New York City bowling alley. In November, Rihanna told radio personality Angie Martinez thatthey were just friends— but the evening rang more sentimental to Drake, who later said he felt like “a pawn” and referenced their bowling date in his song “Fireworks.”
Later that year, Rihanna and Drake were seen spending time together in Montreal, and in 2012 Drake released “Take Care” featuring the Barbados-born singer. In 2014, his “ultimate fantasy,” as he described Rihanna toRolling Stone, joined him on several stops of his tour. But in 2015, Rihanna denied dating Drake toVanity Fair, saying her “last real, official boyfriend was Chris Brown.”
“She’s someone I’vebeen in love withsince I was 22 years old,” he said while presenting her with the award. At the afterparty, he “was literally shadowing her every movement and was just soaffectionate and adoringthe entire night,” a source told PEOPLE.
While the duo sharedsome friendly online banterin March 2020, Rihannacovered up her shark tattoowith a crown in 2021.
Matt Kemp
Noah Graham/NBAE
A few months later, Rihanna confirmed her newfound romance in an interview withRyan Seacrest. “He’s my boyfriend,” she said. “It’s new, and it’s fun, and it’s nothing too serious, you know. I don’t want anything that’s going to take up so much of my energy and time right now in a bad way.”
Rihanna and Kemp continued to date through the summer. “I’m so happy. I feel really comfortable, and it’s so easy,” she toldEllein June. “I have such a chaotic life, but at the end of the day, that is just my peace. It keeps me sane, really, talking to him and talking to my family.”
By December 2010, however, the couple ended their relationship.
Travis Scott
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Rihanna and rapperTravis Scottwere first linked in late 2015, when they were spotted on several outings together, including a tattoo appointment, a fashion week afterparty and multiple nights out in West Hollywood, California.
In October, Rihanna attended Scott’s set at Hollywood nightclub 1 OAK. “Once Travis finished his set, they were inseparable and all over each other,” an onlooker told PEOPLE. “It was cute!”
Scott opened for Rihannaon the North American leg of herAntitour beginning in February 2016. Despite months of circulating rumors, the pair never acknowledged a romantic relationship between them. Scott went on to date and welcome two children withKylie Jenner.
Hassan Jameel
Rihanna, Hassan Jameel.Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
The “Love on the Brain” singer was first romantically linked to Saudi businessmanHassan Jameelin June 2017.
Though the couple rarely spoke publicly about their relationship, they weren’t shy about going on dates. Rumors of a split spread in July 2018 when Rihanna and Jameel were photographed during a heated conversation, but the singershut them downwith a meme on Instagram.
In June 2019, actressSarah Paulsonspoke to the Grammy-winning artist forInterviewmagazine. “Are you in love?” Paulson asked, to which Rihanna replied, “Of course I am.” The Fenty founder added that she was prioritizing her personal life over her career.
“I got into a new relationship, and it matters to me,” she said. “It was like, ‘I need to make time for this.’ Just like I nurture my businesses, Ineed to nurture thisas well. I’ll shut things down for two days, three days at a time.”
The relationship appeared to take a serious turn in August 2019: Rihanna and Jameel spent a “lovely dinner evening” with her brother and her mom,Monica Braithwaite Fenty. “They all stayed a good few hours of the night until dark,” a source told PEOPLE.
Rihanna and Jameel’sromance endedin January 2020 after nearly three years together. A source told PEOPLE, “Their lives were too different and it was hard to maintain a relationship.”
A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna.Rich Fury/Getty
The pairspent the holidays togetherin her home country of Barbados. “They’ve been inseparablethe past few weeks,” a source told PEOPLE in December. “It’s a new relationship, but they both seem very into it.”
In May 2021, A$AP made his feelings for Rihanna extremely clear in an interview withGQ. “Thelove of my life,” he said when her name was brought up. “My lady.”
He continued: “[Being in a relationship is] so much better. So much better when you got the One. She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones. I think when you know, you know. She’s the One.”
In April 2022, a viral tweet accused A$AP of cheating on the pregnant “Diamonds” singer with designer Amina Muaddi. The designer quicklyset the record straightand insisted that the “vile” reports were entirely unfounded.
Trouble continued to plague A$AP that month: He wasarrested and detainedin L.A. in connection with a November 2021 shooting. He was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and his bail was set at $550,000. He wasreleased from jaillater that day; hepleaded not guiltyto the charges in August 2021.
source: people.com
