The Rihanna Haters
Dorothy insisted that I blog on the anti Rihanna ism attitudes which seems to foreshadow the relationship between our most famous cultural ambassador and the very island she is suppose to be representing, Barbados.
Rihanna continues to be a rising star of the international entertainment community.
Beyond the shores of Barbados she is held in high esteem and rubs shoulders and performs with the crème de la crème of international superstars.
Her success has been two fold as it not only has benefited Rihanna but also Barbados .
Allow me to illustrate with a quote from FB Group “Bajans For Rihanna”
“I now live away from Bim 18yrs, 15 of which in Spain, and its the first time that I say to anyone “I’m from Barbados” and people actually know where that is……. so thanks to Rihanna!!” Faith Ollivierre
Considering the major part Rihanna has played in raising Barbados’s profile internationally, its therefore even more puzzling why there are some Bajans who hate Rihanna with an passion.
Her attendance at the state funeral of our late dear PM David Thompson was an example of this Hatetredry*.
At first it was stated Rihanna couldn’t come cause she was too busy, so some Bajans lambasted her fuh dat
Then low and behold Rihanna turned up and attended the funeral, then the same people turned around and lambasted her for coming, she is damned if she doesn’t and damned if she does.
Let me give you two of the reasons why I feel Bajans don’t like Rihanna,
#1 She is a Bajan!
If Rihanna was an American with the star status that she currently has, we would be kissing her ass every time she came here, like we would do for Lady Ga Ga for example, (which would be easy as Lady Ga Ga does not wear much clothes) she would be the greatest thing since slice bread, she would get royal treatment and everything she did would be well done.
But the poor girl had the misfortune of being born right here so she can’t get no special treatment “cause who she feel she is”.
#2; She is a successful woman! And to make matters worse, a damn good looking too, who tell she do that,?You know how women hate a woman who looks good, Its “the Green eye monster” raising its ugly head aka jealousy.
If Rihanna were a man achieving the same success he would not be experiencing this same contemptuous attitude from the Bajan public.
In general there is a small mindedness that permeates our society where there is a deliberate attempt to belittle anyone with a profile to say “they were nobody once and we want to remind them of that”. If a person is famous and popular it should not be held against them, So Rihanna should hold her Combermerian head high and continue to do great things for Barbados, don’t mind the haters, they are a lot of Bajans who support you and recognise what you do for Barbados, I am one of them I have no choice any ways cause Dorothy can be pretty acerbic when it comes to the subject of Ri Ri, and I don’t want to get cuss. Let the hatred of Rihanna Cease, like this post is ceasing right now….
*“Hatetredry” a Boyceism meaning intense and unwarranted hate
If during the reading of this blog there is any thing I might have written which might have incensed or offended you, GET OVER IT! There are many things I read and hear in the media on a daily basis that I don't like either. SO DEAL WITH IT! You are welcome to leave your comments though. Make sure and come back yuh hear !!!...
November 15th, 2010 at 12:11 am
You said it. Rihanna haters should look in the mirror and ask themselves why they do this, is it because Rihanna is the things they say she is or is it because they are just plainly jealous. It is shameful that someone who takes the Barbados flag and even if the tiniest village in deepest Africa or the Amazon for that matter, people know Rihanna. This alone should Bajans proud. Otherwise it shows they are not proud of their country.
To these Rihanna haters, in fact to all those who ‘hate’ anyone I say this, and I quote from the book – The Four Agreements:
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
And to Rihanna I also quote because no matter how wealthy she might be, and how many friends she may have in big places, it is always good to have a home and it is very important that when this Superstar (yes! Superstar!), she should feel loved, proud and comfortable.
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
Bless.
November 15th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Thanks for your Comment Rosemary,
Here are some comments to this article made on my Facebook page I would like to submit;
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jennifer Young said
Well Peter the only thing missing from the Blog is Up and On!!!!!
I am one of those bajans who felt she should come to the funeral and she did, so on my page I said Thank You Rihana for coming. I was so shocked and ashamed of Bajans when the…y attacked her for what she was wearing. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what she had on. And if I was her, I would never come back to bim or do anything to help bim period… To her I say keep your head on stay focused, keep striving and keep God in your life
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Sue Holder said: Well done Peter problem with our culture is that we don’t support our own. Then we complain that people like us cannot get any where in this world.
November 15th, 2010 at 6:34 am
‘Hateredry‘ is a broad palette to paint, what one also has to consider is that the late PM Thompson made her Cultural Ambassador in spite of many objections.
In so doing, Rihanna has a higher bar to uphold, but she goes in Vogue and practically is naked, prances with a midget dominatrix, she says she wants to know what sex is like with another woman and so forth – Not what your typical diplomat goes about saying…
So when DT passed away, she was DUTY BOUND – NO QUESTIONS to attend…
But all she does is give a statement at first that she sends regrets but after Kammie holder’s impassioned plea on my website appears and the backlash extends to TMZ, Daily Mail and Media Take Out suddenly she changes her mind?
Then just as suddenly the Rihanna Worshippers (no matter what, Ri-Ri is ALWAYS right- she poops BICO ice cream and passes out Moet & Chandon champagne instead of urine and sweats Chanel No 5) say she had every intention of attending but she had to create false appearances for security reasons – so where is the logic in that? Announce No then Yes and folk know ehre you are anyway? How”safe” is that? PLEASE!
Nevertheless, let it be on the record that when she decided to do the right thing? I praised her at Bajan Reporter… I have no hatred just as Cultural Ambassador i expect her to do better ALL the time or don’t accept the position, simple!!
November 15th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Thank you for echoing the sentiments I have had for all theses years. What Rihanna has done for this small island the Tourism Authority could never do. She is my Superstar. My little girl with long plaits from Westbury New Road all grown up and I am so proud. Keep doing what you are doing RiRi. Always know they are those who will grudge you because of your successes but none of then can go out there and do what you do everyday. The glamourous side is all they see.
Love you bad RiRi
November 15th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Peter,
I can personally say that Rihana has done something for Barbados even if its only to bring recognition and we should be proud. I travel alot and prior to Rihana bigging up Bim, I had on a few occasions to actually got out a map and show people where Barbados was in order to enter the countries. I also had on occasions in the process of trying to explain where Barbados was, tell people I was from Jamaica (to the delight of my JA colleagues) in order to cut short the questions.
Thanks to Rihana that is no longer the same, there are some people that still don’t know where Bim is located, but at least there have a reference piont, Rihana and that makes it so much easier.
Thanks You Rihana….
November 16th, 2010 at 7:16 am
@ Ia, Rihanna did not set out to be an ambassador, she was made an ambassador because of the same entertainment profile which u criticise, therefore it would be unrealistic to expect Rihanna to conform her career and artistic and marketing decisions to conform to “ambassador” status conferred on her which could result in career suicide.
U are welcome Yolan
Tyrone, I think Your example is another most excellent example of what ambassador Rihanna has done for Barbados. And I know u have traveled quite extensively world wide and would have much experience in what u are speaking on
November 16th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
The problem though with hatredry as you title it is that anytime anyone with a complaint opens their mouth they will be seen as a rhianna hater and sometimes the complaints are legit.
I aint talking about the funeral stuff cause I thought people were just being absolutely silly with the comments on her coming or not coming and I glad she could make it. I big she up for reppin bim too and I aint one like the others that looking for no free concert in Barbados but at the same time ya gotta admit there are occasions she does something and you’re like wha de tail you doing girl?
November 17th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I think that Jesus said it best – “Only in his hometown….is a prophet without honor.” In other words the people that will hate you most are your own people. Bajans hate Rhianna because she is a bajan, simple as that.
November 24th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Rihanna, has surpassed Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey Billboard rankings over the last 18 years. Please join the Barbadians for Rihanna Facebook page. We have big plans to do something special for her on her birthday February 20th 2011.
November 26th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Rihanna, I loveeeeeee you!!! You are the best! Keep doing your thing and making us here in BIM proud! It’s not your fault that you are blessed and highly favoured! When people do good and live good by God, the blessings of the Lord can come down upon them or their descendants! You work hard and you keep a bright smile on your face! As a former Combermerian, I am very proud of you, and I always remember the small chats we had in the hall ways at school. You are a Gem!! Remember God always and you are sure to reap the rewards! Bajans need to stop the hating on fellow Barbadians. Why are we the only nation that does it (so openly). That’s why Ri ri’s visits are shortened because of the disrespect she gets from some Bajans when she return home for a vacation. Everyone has an opportunity to succeed at what they set out to do. Find you talent and use it! Find that one thing that makes you ‘you’ and embrace it! We all have special gift(s), it’s just a matter of finding the gift(s) and putting it to good use! Rihanna I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you
December 29th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
rianna is rubbish she can’t sing !!!! all she can do is strip naked thats why she is so famous !!
August 9th, 2012 at 8:04 am
If she cannot sing I would wish to be like her to be able to make money by not signing. Why the hate and envy?