NewsweekRihanna made a major splash at her fifth annual Diamond Ball Thursday—and it had nothing to do with her musical performance. During an interview with Essence, the 31-year-old pop star hinted that she might be pregnant, and her fans on Twitter took notice.
“I’m a black woman. I came from a black woman, who came from a black woman, who came from a black woman and I’m going to give birth to a black woman,” the pop singer told the magazine Thursday. “My mother is an incredible example of how to fight through obstacles in life. I’m sure her mom taught her that and that’s how I’m going to be. We are impeccable, we’re special, we’re special and the world is going to have to deal with that.”
Pregnancy rumors began to swirl when the ANTI singer first appeared at the star-studded event clad in a figure-hugging, black and white Givenchy gown. During her performance, fans spotted what they thought was a “baby bump” underneath her dress and were quick to tweet their surprise and congratulations.
Rihanna holds the ball each year to benefit her Clara Lionel Foundation, an organization she created in 2012 to give back to underserved communities around the world through education and health advocacy.
Fellow musicians Cardi B, A$AP Ferg, Kehlani and Normani attended the star-studded event. DJ Khaled and Pharrell Williams performed.
“I mean I’m really happy right now,” Rihanna said Thursday in an interview with People. “The thing that’s making me the happiest tonight is seeing the amount of support, the magnitude of support is really special.”
Rihanna recently made headlines after her lingerie line Savage X Fenty garnered positive reviews during New York Fashion Week. More star performers— including Big Sean, Halsey, Migos and A$AP Ferg—lent their voices to the show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
At the event, Rihanna addressed her own music career focusing on her highly anticipated ninth studio album, which may be dropping in December, according to rumors.
“I still got an album to finish,” she told Entertainment Tonight when asked if she might be performing at this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. “You gonna ask me about Super Bowl? My fans about to have my neck.”
Rihanna—born Robyn Rihanna Fenty—is one of five black women to reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this decade, alongside Beyoncé, Lizzo, Janelle Monáe and Cardi B. She burst onto the music scene in 2006 with his single S.O.S., and is the winner of nine grammy awards.
