Rihanna is known for breaking boundaries, whether it’s through her chart-topping music, billion-dollar Fenty empire, or unforgettable Super Bowl halftime performance. But behind the glitz and glamour, her most important role is being a mother. In a rare and heartfelt interview, Rihanna opened up about her life with A$AP Rocky and their two sons, RZA and Riot, sharing intimate details about parenthood, their growing family, and the unique story behind their youngest son’s name.
Rihanna revealed that music icon Pharrell Williams played a surprising role in naming their son Riot Rose Mayers. According to her, Pharrell initially thought they were expecting a girl and suggested the name after coming across something online. “Pharrell is very deep. He’s not surface-level. He will never say anything and just leave it there with a full stop. He will have the entire history: the energy, the time, the month that it is,” Rihanna explained. The name turned out to be a perfect match for Riot’s personality—an energetic and expressive child who starts each morning with squeals of excitement rather than cries.
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Her eldest son, RZA, has a very different temperament. “He’s so magical,” Rihanna shared. “He loves music, melody, books, and water. Bath time, swimming, the pool, the beach—anything.” Named after Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, the hip-hop legend himself acknowledged the tribute, calling it an honor to see his name passed down to a new generation.
Beyond her deep love for her children, Rihanna admires how A$AP Rocky has embraced fatherhood. “His pureness, his charm,” she said, before joking, “I’m annoyed because my sons sometimes live for him more than they live for me. And I’m like, ‘Do you know who cooked you? Do you know who pushed you out?’” Despite the playful competition for their kids’ attention, Rihanna admits that seeing Rocky as a dad is one of the greatest things about him.
"/>While she adores motherhood, Rihanna has also been open about the struggle of balancing her career with raising her children. “Everything that I do that I love robs me of time with them,” she admitted. “So I have a weird resentment toward the things that I love. You almost feel like something is always suffering for you to show up somewhere.” This internal conflict is something many parents can relate to—trying to excel in their careers while feeling the guilt of missing precious moments with their children.
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Despite their global fame, Rihanna and Rocky prefer to live as normal a life as possible. “I don’t like private rooms. I don’t have them shut down stores. I don’t like the Rapunzel life,” she said. “It’s very isolating. It’s very lonely. And what am I protecting myself from?” Instead of hiding behind security and exclusivity, they enjoy everyday experiences—whether it’s shopping, dining out, or hitting up arcades and karaoke nights. Keeping their relationship grounded in reality helps them stay connected to each other and their roots.
As for expanding their family, Rihanna isn’t ruling out the possibility of another child. She playfully told E! News that she’s “batting at 75 percent for a boy next time.” However, she also admitted that the idea of another pregnancy makes her anxious, joking that she’d “cry for a day” before adjusting to the idea.
Rihanna’s journey as a mother is just as inspiring as her legendary career. From the meaningful name choices for her children to her commitment to living authentically, she continues to prove that being a global icon doesn’t mean sacrificing real-life joys. As she navigates the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal growth, one thing is certain—her most cherished role will always be being a mother.
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