It seems whenever an uncomplimentary comment is directed at Barbadian Superstar Rihanna there is a Riri-posse whose job it is to find all kinds of ridiculous rebuttals. Barbados Underground (BU) followed Rihanna’s early career, a search of BU will turn up several Rihanna blogs but we stopped. It is evident that Rihanna although she is earning megabucks her lifestyle is one which says ‘live fast, die young’. We would not wish for a member of the BU household to follow Rihanna as a role model and BU makes no apology for the statement.
BU extends condolences to Rihanna on the passing of her grandmother. We took note of the Pastor using the opportunity to counsel Rihanna in his address at the funeral. It appears he fears for her well being given her well-publicised lifestyle. There is the saying that one has to walk in the shoes of the other to feel the pinch. Nobody can understand the pressure which comes from being in the glare of the public, performing at a high level show after show to fulfill expectations from a demanding public, 24/7 security when out and about, and all the other demands that come with stardom. However when all is said and done individuals make choices and we have to deal with the consequences which ensue.
BU does not mean to judge Rihanna. She is a woman who can do what she wants. However we say to all those people who want to suggest to the BU household that we are wrong for frowning on Rihanna’s lifestyle and seek to explain it away as an act she wears because she is an artist, give us a break! Read our lips, the BU household would not want any member to regard Rihanna as a model of success. She has the opportunity to negotiate with her handlers the kind of image she wants to project a al Beyoncé and Tyler Swift, she went with ‘good girl gone bad’.
How do we define success anyway? A no-name girl plucked from fourth form at Combermere School at seventeen years old and went on to become a Superstar defines success for us? What are the ingredients she has used to become successful? By posing half naked, using sexual suggestive language, lyrics and dance? What is it? What about the moral face of what she represents? Is there a reason to think that part of the definition of success should align with what we know is right? The litmus test the BU household uses is whether we would want our granddaughter to grow up to be a Rihanna if the opportunity presented itself. The resounding answer is NO!
Although holding the opinion we do it does not mean we do not understand what she has been able to achieve in the murky world of hip hop. We wish her all the best and hope she heeds Jayz’s advice to take care of herself. More importantly we hope she heeds Pastor Lowe’s counsel. He has known her before she became a star and obviously has given her advice because he cares about her.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.