Rihanna faced criticism from fans for what they deemed a “horrible” and “shocking” karaoke performance in New York City last week. The Grammy-winning artist, 36, took part in the Girls Love Karaoke event, and videos of her singing quickly spread across social media. Despite fans’ long-standing pleas for new music since her last album in 2016, many were disappointed by her rendition of hits like “Needed Me” and “Sex With Me.”
As one user harshly wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “is this edited this sounds horrible.” Someone else added: “Is this really Rihanna? My cat can sing better.” One other quipped: “The mic was bleeding.” An additional user tweeted: “I’m sorry I’m still laughing at that Rihanna karaoke video.” One chimed in: “that voice is gone.”
Fans React To Rihanna’s Viral Girls Love Karaoke Moment
The beauty mogul, as fans know, hasn’t released a full-length record since her eighth studio LP, Anti in 2016. That album spawned hits like “Love on the Brain,” “Work” and “Kiss It Better.” Since then, the mom of two (who shares sons RZA, 2, and Riot, 9 months, with partner A$AP Rocky) did notably record the song “Lift Me Up” from the 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
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Other fans weighed in on the "Umbrella" artist's viral karaoke moment and the requests of many to unveil new music.
"She did this so folks will stop asking her for music," one wrote as another added: "'Now i see why we haven’t been getting any music." Someone else joked: "im ngl she can keep that album im gagggeedddd like whattttttt." One fan theorized: "Can you blame her for not wanting to release any music. Her hearts not in it because she’s not training that voice. She’s super rich so she doesn’t need the music lol."
Rihanna Continues To Spark Music Retirement Rumors
In November 2024, Rihanna sparked speculation about stepping away from music forever when she spoke at the Fenty Beauty launch in her native Barbados, mentioning that God might have "different plans" for her career.
She said to the crowd: "Music was the thing that got the attention, but God had other plans for me." Although she hinted at releasing new music in 2019, the Savage X Fenty designer has focused on her lingerie and beauty brands instead. Last year she also ventured into hair care.
During her aforementioned event last fall, she noted: "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, 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."
