Rihanna has responded to the “uncomfortable” tribute by Drake at the MTV VMAs in 2016, revealing that the pair are no longer friends.

At the 2016 MTV VMAs, Drake paid tribute to Rihanna with an introductory speech as she was handed that year’s Video Vanguard Award.

“She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old,” Drake said at the time. “She’s one of my best friends in the world. All my adult life I’ve looked up to her even though she’s younger than me. She’s a living, breathing legend in our industry.”


Now, speaking to Vogue, Rihanna has described the moment as “uncomfortable” and said that her and Drake “don’t have a friendship now”.

“The VMAs is such a fan-focused awards show, so having that energy around me, and knowing the people who had received the award in the past, made it feel like a big deal,” Rihanna said.

“Waiting through that speech was probably the most uncomfortable part. I don’t like too many compliments; I don’t like to be put on blast.”

She added of her current relationship with Drake: “We don’t have a friendship now, but we’re not enemies either. It is what it is.”


Elsewhere in the Vogue piece, it is revealed that Rihanna is working on a reggae album.

In the feature, writer Chioma Nnandi says that the follow-up to 2016’s ‘Anti’ will be influenced by Bob Marley and the influential record producer Supa Dups; best known for his work with Beenie Man and Sean Paul. “She plans to make a reggae album,” Nnandi states.

The update comes after the Barbadian artist assured fans that new music was on the way earlier this week. “She coming sis!” the singer told a fan when they asked about the whereabouts of new material. A source close to Rihanna also claimed that there could well be two new albums on the way.