Fenty creator and singer Rihanna surprised fans by officially taking over from Charlize Theron as the face of J’Adore Dior fragrance, marking her debut in a stunning commercial that premiered online last Sunday night.
In the ad, the mother of two transforms from a sleek black Dior outfit into a dazzling gold ensemble. The shimmering, beaded dress features a side split and is paired with a flowing, sheer mesh cape. To complete the regal look, she accessorized with layered pearl bracelets, a bold necklace, and gold strappy heels.
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Rihanna Stuns In A Gold Dress For Dior—But Her Fans Call It A ‘Disaster’
While Rihanna’s look was undeniably stunning, longtime fans of both the French brand and the singer were quick to point out some flaws in the commercial. Many felt the style closely resembled looks Charlize Theron had already worn for Dior, and some even criticized the blonde wig, noting that it seemed to lack the usual effort and precision.
“Yeah…. nah! Love Dior. Love Rihanna. But this ad is not good. The dress had been recycled from Charlize. So has the pearl necklace. The Versailles palace has been done. Rihanna is stunning, but the makeup here is less than what I would expect from a makeup house. Fenty is doing it better. And not to be picky (but I am)… Rihanna’s wig is not straight. The part is off, and the hairline is awful. Expected so much more of this collaboration (like when Riri did glasses and bags for Dior), but this is a major letdown,” said one fan.
“Nothing against Rihanna, but J’Adore will always be the elegant, sophisticated, seductive, and mysterious Charlize Theron. It is a marketing bad strategy because the perfume is really good. What a disaster from Dior; it should have created a new perfume that matches the energy and style of Rihanna… Next!!!” wrote another user.
“Mmm… Love Riri, #HATE the commercial. Recycled dress, necklace, heels, walk, nothing works. Lazy artistic direction. Clear attempt to turn Rihanna into Charlize Theron, killing her personality and uniqueness in the process. Someone’s getting fired. Marketing 101, don’t recast if you can’t make the reboot unforgettable. Expectations are too high,” commented someone else.
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Rihanna Recalls Being A Longtime Fan Of J’Adore Perfume
The Savage x Fenty creator revealed that she has always been a fan of the brand and its perfumes.
In an exclusive interview with Vogue, the “Umbrella” icon said, “My mother worked in a perfume shop. She used to always bring home the J’adore testers when they were almost empty, so there was always a bottle in the house. I have always loved this perfume.”
Rihanna’s ties with the brand don’t start here; she made history as the house’s first Black ambassador back in 2015. She also attended Dior’s couture spring 2024 show in January.
