Rihanna wiped around $1bn (£720m) off Snapchat’s parent company on Thursday when she criticised the messaging app for hosting an advert that appeared to make light of her history as a victim of domestic violence.

Shares in Snap Inc fell almost 5pc as the popstar criticised the app on Instagram, Snapchat's main rival.

"Now SNAPCHAT I know you already know you ain't my fav app out there!" Rihanna said "But I'm just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess! I'd love to call it ignorance, but I know you ain't that dumb!"

The singer was responding to an advert on the social media app asking users if they would rather "slap Rihanna or punch Chris Brown". Brown was convicted of assaulting Rihanna in 2009 when the two were in a relationship.

The incident was the latest example of celebrities' apparent ability to affect Snap's share price. Last month Kylie Jenner sent the company's share price tumbling when she said: "sooo does anyone else not open Snapchat anymore? Or is it just me... ugh this is so sad."