Rihanna

The FCC received 103 formal complaints concerning the Super Bowl LVII broadcast, most targeting Rihanna's halftime performance as overly sexualised for a family programme.

State of the evidence

Documented

The announcement that Johnny Depp would participate in the Savage X Fenty show angered some Rihanna fans because of domestic abuse allegations involving Depp and Amber Heard and Rihanna's own history as a victim of violence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Lavender Lingerie LLC, operator of Savage X Fenty, accepted a $1.2 million consent judgment in an action brought by several California local prosecutors. Authorities alleged insufficient disclosure of automatic charges, renewal arrangements and credit usage, among other matters.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Rihanna shared an article about measures taken against protesting farmers in India and asked why the issue was not being discussed more widely. A foreign celebrity's intervention prompted major controversy; the Indian government criticised comments from overseas celebrities that it considered sensationalist or insufficiently informed.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Rihanna posed topless wearing a pendant depicting the Hindu god Ganesha. Hindu online users and commentators considered her use of the religious symbol disrespectful and culturally appropriative.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The 2021 Savage X Fenty show prompted cultural appropriation allegations because several non-Black models wore braided hairstyles strongly associated with Black history and identity.

State of the evidence

Documented

A Savage X Fenty fashion show used Coucou Chloe's track 'Doom', which contained a sample of a hadith. Muslims condemned the use of a sacred text in that context. Rihanna apologised, describing it as serious unintended negligence and an 'honest but careless' mistake.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The 'BBHMM' video, conceived and co-directed by Rihanna, depicts the kidnapping and mistreatment of an accountant's wife, followed by bloody revenge. It triggered intense debate, including among feminist critics, some of whom considered it to glorify violence against women.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The highly sexualised 'S&M' video was restricted or edited in several markets. In the United Kingdom, Ofcom found that a music channel had breached the broadcasting code by showing the unedited video in the morning, fuelling debate about minors' exposure to sexualised music videos.

State of the evidence

Documented

Photographer David LaChapelle sued Rihanna and other parties involved in the 'S&M' video, alleging that several scenes directly copied his photographs. A judge found that part of the claim could proceed to trial; the matter was subsequently settled for an undisclosed amount.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Directly implicated

Person targeted by the proceedings

David LaChapelle

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

The 'Man Down' video depicts a woman shooting the man who sexually assaulted her. Groups including the Parents Television Council called on BET to withdraw it, arguing that it glamorised murderous revenge.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated