If you cast your mind back to December, Rihanna published the first photos of her son via Hollywood Unlocked and even made her first TikTok to post a video. Shortly after, a series of paparazzi photos of Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, and the baby taking photos on the beach made their way online — leading to reports that she only released images of her baby in order to beat the paparazzi.
Speaking to British Vogue, Rihanna confirmed that the beach photo shoot was for her cover story. “It’s the thing you never want to happen,” she said of the moment she saw the paparazzi.
“I just went straight into protective mode,” Rihanna said. “Like there wasn’t even time for rage. [Rocky and I] drove up to the trailer area and we sat in the car chatting and working out how we move forward. As parents it just feels so icky, like a violation.”
Rihanna confirmed she sent out the first images of her son to Hollywood Unlocked and posted the TikTok because she knew the paparazzi “were making calls and deals” with the images of the family. Indeed, when it comes to introducing her 9-month-old son to the world, she continued, “We get to decide as parents when and how we do that. End of story.”
“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.”
You can read Rihanna’s full interview with British Vogue here.
