As a global pop superstar, Rihanna is no stranger to facing criticism online. But the Barbados-born singer isn’t afraid to clap back at her haters, as she proved on Election Day this week.
Rihanna took to Instagram on Monday to share a lighthearted video of herself staring out a car window, with the caption “POV: Me trying to sneak into the polls with my son’s passport #votecauseIcant.” In another post, she joked, “When protecting pussies and firing pussies can happen all in one vote, #votecauseicant #TanSuitSeason.”
While Rihanna was clearly just making a joke about not being able to vote in the US election as a Barbadian citizen, some of her followers didn’t see the humor. One commenter scolded, “Illegal voting is a crime. Perhaps we should arrest her for attempting to vote illegally.
“Shut up, Karen,” Rihanna swiftly replied. Internet slang commonly refers to “Karen” as an entitled or demanding white woman. Rihanna was clearly in no mood to entertain the voter fraud allegations from this particular “Karen.”
When another Trump supporter accused Rihanna of wanting to “cheat to win,” she hit back: “Lol! Once you stop burning ballot boxes, come check me out.” A third fan called Rihanna “sad” for endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming the two presidential candidates are “exactly the same.” But Rihanna wasn’t having it, responding, “LOL! Donkey of the day goes toooo…”
One netizen even conjectured that the system might have “rejected” Rihanna when she applied to vote as a migrant. However, the “Diamonds” singer proudly stated, “I LOVE my Bajan passport! I came here to work and pay taxes! You’re welcome.”
Despite her playful Instagram caption, Rihanna made it clear that she has no desire to vote illegally in the US election. “When yall stop burning ballot boxes, come check me,” she told one critic, alluding to the real voter suppression efforts happening across the country.
The 36-year-old mogul has been outspoken about political issues in the past, using her massive platform to encourage Americans to vote. During the 2018 midterm elections, she encouraged her fans to take action by voting.
While Rihanna may not be able to cast a ballot herself, she’s evidently eager to see Kamala Harris, the first woman, first African American, and first Asian American to hold the office of Vice President, get re-elected.
“You’re fucked! And so is the America you dream of. Rihanna clapped back at one commenter who downplayed the importance of issues like abortion rights. Rihanna’s passionate reactions demonstrate her willingness to advocate for her political beliefs, even if it means engaging in conflict with some “Karens” in her Instagram comments. As she herself stated, “We are out here fighting for our rights!”