Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have tense Met Gala debrief in automobile journey dwelling after giddy show at soiree
Rihanna, 38, and A$AP Rocky, 37, were having the time of their lives at the Met Gala, but hours later the power couple were seen having a tense-looking debrief.
Video captured by onlookers captured the heavy moment, and shows the couple sitting inside a sprinter van with some distance between them.
The topic of discussion remains a mystery, however based on their strained expressions, it couldn’t have been anything particularly light.
Rihanna did appear to crack a brief smile and chuckle during the chat, however it did not last.
Fans rushed to defend the couple though with one quipping: ‘You try to be a mom of 3, being with your partner for more than 5 years without arguing at least one day. That’s called adulting!’
It was all a far cry from the picture the couple were emitting earlier in the evening.
Rihanna and her partner A$AP Rocky had a tense-looking debrief after the Met Gala
Video captured by an onlooker showed the couple having what appeared to be a heavy discussion inside their sprinter van
On the staircase of The Met, the couple exuded relationship goals as they posed up a storm on the red carpet before goofing around with Heidi Klum inside the swanky party.
Rihanna even appeared to have her partner in stitches as she struck a cheeky pose with Klum.
Furthermore, an eyewitness who saw the couple periodically throughout the evening told TMZ the pair appeared to be having a great time and were completely fine.
The witness added they did not observe any issues between the couple.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the couple but have not yet heard back.
Netizens speculated the conversation may have been about a chat A$AP was having with a female Met Gala guest as Rihanna conducted a brief interview.
The video showed Rihanna speaking with the cameraman as her partner chatted with the woman in the background.
The atmosphere inside the van appeared to be heavy
The music icons had some distance between them inside the vehicle
The moment was caught on film but TMZ sources said nothing was going on between the woman and A$AP, with the videographer even stepping in to shut down the chatter and insist everyone already knew each other.
The woman was identified by TMZ as Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert, an Italian fashion designer and stylist who attended the bash with singer EJAE.
The video showed the rapper talking to Engelbert and several others before turning his attention to the Italian stylist. They exchanged friendly kisses on the cheek as they parted ways before A$AP rejoined his partner.
‘Oh so this is why they were arguing -‘ @YSLONIKA, who posted the video to X, remarked.
A$AP and Rihanna were having the time of their lives earlier in the evening
The singer failed to crack a smile for the majority of their discussion
Unclear what they were talking about, but the topic was unlikely light
‘He’s too friendly,’ another wrote. ‘He needs to slow down,’ one said, along with a screengrab of the kiss.
However, TMZ reports the video failed to capture the whole interaction, and that Engelbert is someone who has known Rihanna for years and ‘has a lot of respect’ for her.
Insiders stressed to TMZ there was absolutely no romantic energy between A$AP and Engelbert.
The outlet reports the whole interaction began with Engelbert first speaking with Rihanna, sharing a laugh with her, before she spoke with A$AP and joked around with him about his necklace.
Additionally, Backstage Live Event, the videographer who captured the clip, clarified the couple are ‘very much in love’ and that Rihanna was ‘not unhappy.’
‘@backstageliveent was talking with the couple on the red carpet at the #metgala she was not unhappy and everyone in that circle know each other, so please stop [stop sign emoji] the couple is very much in love,’ they posted to their Instagram comments.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the couple for comment about the video and TMZ report.
Rihanna did appear to crack a brief smile and chuckle during the chat, however it did not last
TMZ identified the woman in the video as Italian designer and stylist Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert, who a source said has known Rihanna for years and had no romantic energy with A$AP at the gala
Netizens initially speculated the tense chat may have been over this moment of A$AP having a friendly chat with a pal, but sources have said there was no romantic energy between them
A TMZ source said the video didn’t include the full interaction which began with Rihanna chatting with Giovanna
Indeed, the video does show A$AP chatting with others as well
Rihanna and A$AP have been together for six years and share three children together.
The newest addition to their family, daughter Rocki Irish Mayers, was born in mid-September.
She joins big brothers RZA, born in 2022, and Riot Rose, who arrived in 2023.
The pair, who first got together in 2020, have remained inseparable ever since, often sparking wedding speculation after Rocky publicly referred to Rihanna as his ‘wife’ and called himself her ‘loving husband’ earlier this year.
In December, Rocky gave a sweet update on his family and fatherhood.
‘I’m surprised that the older two [are] getting along as much as they are,’ he told Extra. ‘You know, usually for them to be so close and age, [they’d] fight a lot, but [we’re] a happy family.’
Rihanna also chimed in to say their kids are ‘amazing.’
‘The babies are amazing. They’re all getting bigger, and I cannot take it,’ she gushed. ‘My sons, oh my god, their faces are changing. Their necks are getting longer. I love it.’
In November, Rocky revealed he was ‘happy to be a girl dad at this point’ after welcoming two sons in 15 months.
Fans rushed to defend the couple though with one quipping: ‘You try to be a mom of 3, being with your partner for more than 5 years without arguing at least one day. That’s called adulting!’
An eyewitness who saw the couple periodically throughout the evening told TMZ the pair appeared to be having a great time and were completely fine
Rihanna and A$AP have been together for six years and share three children together
The couple recently welcomed a daughter together
Netizens speculated the tense moment may have been about a chat A$AP had with a female Met Gala guest
However the woman is reportedly someone who has known Rihanna for years, with insiders telling TMZ there was absolutely no romantic energy between A$AP and the woman
The pair, who first got together in 2020, have remained inseparable ever since
The couple have sparked wedding speculation after Rocky publicly referred to Rihanna as his ‘wife’ and called himself her ‘loving husband’
Rihanna, 38, and A$AP Rocky, 37, were having the time of their lives at the Met Gala, but hours later the power couple were seen having a tense-looking debrief
The tense talk was a far cry from the more light-hearted display the couple was exuding inside the Met Gala
Rihanna had her partner in stitches as she struck a cheeky pose with Heidi Klum
‘Rocki is cuter than ever. You know, she’s my baby twin, so it’s amazing,’ he told Entertainment Tonight.
As for how his boys were adjusting to life with their baby sister, the rapper admitted they ‘get a little jealous’ sometimes.
‘It’s a lot of love to go around, but it’s going to probably take some getting used to. Shout out to my boys and my baby girl, man. Daddy love y’all,’ he said.
Rumors of a romance between the two musicians began to swirl in January 2020, after she split from her ex-boyfriend Hasan Jameel.
Rihanna and Rocky were friends for over a decade before things turned romantic.
Two years after getting together, the couple welcomed their first son RZA in May 2022.
Rihanna famously announced her second pregnancy during her Super Bowl Halftime Show in February 2023. She gave birth to Riot Rose that August.
Speaking to Interview magazine in 2024, Rihanna said she’s open to having ‘as many [children] as God wants me to have.
‘I don’t know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl. But of course if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.’
The couple enjoyed another night celebrating fashion’s biggest night
Rihanna and her long-time partner were the picture of relationship goals
Rihanna and A$AP have been together since 2020
She made rare remarks about her relationship with A$AP Rocky in 2023 as she praised him for being a great dad to their kids.
‘I love him differently as a dad. This is major, major…it’s a turn on. It’s just like, wow. What a leader, what a great, patient loving…and my kids are obsessed with him,’ she gushed to Access Hollywood.
Rihanna launched Savage X Fenty back in 2018 and now the brand is valued at over $1 billion.
It started as an online-only, subscription-based store but it’s since opened stores in major cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston.
Savage X Fenty has also expanded into pajamas and loungewear.
Rihanna resigned as the lingerie brand’s CEO in 2023 after five years at the helm.
Hilarie Super, who has previously worked for GAP and Anthropologie, was chosen to take over the position from the superstar.
While Rihanna may no longer be CEO, she is still among the company’s top leadership.
