Uncategorized
Rihanna Reveals Pharrell Williams Named Her Son, Thinking He Was a Girl
Feb
Pharrell Williams played a surprising role in naming Rihanna’s second son, Riot. In a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the singer shared that the producer came up with the name under the impression she was expecting a girl.
“He had seen something online,” Rihanna explained. “Pharrell is very deep. He’s not surface. He won’t just say something and leave it at that—he’ll give you the full history, the energy, the meaning behind it.”
The name also has a connection to Rihanna’s family. Her partner, A$AP Rocky, collaborated with Pharrell on the track Riot (Rowdy Pipe’n) in 2023. The song, which seemingly references his relationship with Rihanna—whom he calls his “wife” in the lyrics—was released just a month before their son was born. It’s expected to be featured on Rocky’s highly anticipated fourth album, Don’t Be Dumb.
While Rihanna had previously shared the inspiration behind Riot’s middle name, Rose, she had not revealed the origin of his first name. “Not everyone knows this, but Rocky loves flowers—he always has fresh flowers in the house, he decorates with them, and he even had real flowers in his grill once,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2023.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a name has linked back to Pharrell. The Happy singer named his own son Rocket, inspiring the song Rocket’s Theme from Despicable Me.
Rihanna on Her Sons’ Personalities
In her Harper’s Bazaar interview, Rihanna also opened up about her sons’ personalities. She described her eldest, RZA, as an “empath” who has a natural love for music, books, and water. “Bath time, swimming, pool, beach—anything. He just loves it,” she said.
Her youngest, however, has a much more energetic presence. “Riot is hilarious,” she revealed. “He wakes up squealing and screaming—not crying, just singing. He’s my alarm in the morning! And he’s determined. He doesn’t take no for an answer from anyone.”
A$AP Rocky’s Role as a Father
Rihanna also praised Rocky’s parenting, admitting that their sons adore him—sometimes even more than they do her. “I’m annoyed because my sons just live for him,” she joked. “And I’m like, ‘Do you even know who carried you for nine months? Who pushed you out?’ But honestly, when I see it, it’s the best.”
What’s Next for Rihanna?
Fans have been eagerly awaiting new music from Rihanna since her 2016 album Anti. While she has yet to announce a new studio project, she will be contributing original songs to the upcoming Smurfs animated movie, where she’ll also voice Smurfette. The film is set to hit theaters on July 18.