Rihanna made a seemingly cryptic statement about the future of her music career, and now fans are worried.
It’s been almost a decade since Rihanna released her last album, ANTI.
Since then, there has always been conversation about new music, but the 36-year-old “Umbrella” singer has been mostly focused on her businesses, Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, and Savage x Fenty.
Rihanna referenced the shift in her career from music to beauty and fashion at an event in Barbados for her makeup brand.
“Obviously, music was the thing that got the attention, but God had other plans for me,” she said. “And I was able to create in ways that were sincere and genuine and organic and authentic to the things that I loved.”
“So it doesn’t even feel like a job,” she continued.
“Coming back home, where the first place I ever met beauty, acknowledged beauty, was at my home here in Barbados,” she added. “You guys have always inspired me. Everything about my brand, Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin, have been inspired by you and this country, my people, my family, my friends, my opps, I love all of you guys.”
When a user tweeted a clip of her speech, adding, “‘music was the thing that got the attention, but god had other plans for me’ she is gone 😭,” the internet started piling on speculations and interpreations.
One person wrote, “The navy need to accept already the fact that she’s not a singer anymore, she’s a business woman who WAS a singer.”
The navy need to accept already the fact that she’s not a singer anymore, she’s a business woman who WAS a singer.
— Kiran Patil (@KIRANPATIL8055N) November 8, 2024
Someone else bluntly said, “She tryna tell yall that she not releasing any music baby.”
She tryna tell yall that she not releasing any music baby
— youtube/Alonzo (@alonzolerone) November 8, 2024
This person went as far as to suggest that, “Rihanna never loved music, yall got to unserstand it. It was her job. She did it, sacrificed years , made her bag, left and moved on, as most of us would do with a job we don’t actually like.”
Rihanna never loved music, yall got to unserstand it. It was her job. She did it, sacrificed years , made her bag, left and moved on, as most of us would do with a job we don’t actually like.
— Watch Film (@film99746) November 8, 2024
This user laid out exactly what those “other plans” are Rihanna was referring to in her speech:
God had other plans:
Fenty
Savage
Tidal
Dior
A billionaire
Motherhood changes your perspective. Music isn’t her focus— BMore (@BMORE0831) November 8, 2024
And finally, this user wrote, “Her music will live on forever but her impact reaches far beyond the stage.”
Her music will live on forever but her impact reaches far beyond the stage
— Husna🇮🇳 (@HusnaRijo) November 8, 2024
But don’t go too deep with all the theories and assumptions. In June, Rihanna told ET, “I think that music, for me, is a new discovery. I’m rediscovering things. I have been working on the album for so long that I kinda put all that stuff aside, and now I’m prepared to go back in the studio. I’m gonna start — give me a second!”
“Yeah, I’m starting over,” Rihanna said. “But I don’t want to neglect the songs that I have, so I actually want to go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective and then see what applies and what I’m still in love with.”
On that note, I’m staying positive and holding out hope for new music.
