The Real Reason Rihanna Doesn't Vote
Rihanna takes voting seriously, even if she doesn't participate in the democratic process herself.
The "Umbrella" singer, 36, posted an Instagram Reel on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before the presidential election, joking about sneaking to the polls herself and urging her followers to vote.
In the video, Rihanna faces slightly away from the camera and wears dark sunglasses, her dark wavy hair occasionally obscuring her face.
"POV: me trying to sneak into the polls with my son's passport #VoteCauseICant," she wrote over the footage.
She captioned the brief clip with a call-out to women's reproductive rights being on the ballot.
"When protecting p—ies and firing p—ies can happen all in one vote," she wrote, adding the hashtags "#votecauseicant #TanSuitSeason."
But wait, why can't Rihanna vote? It turns out, it's really not that dramatic.
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Why Rihanna Can't Vote
Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados. She remains a citizen of the island nation, though she moved to the United States in 2005.
RZA, 2, and Riot Rose, 14 months, her young sons with beau A$AP Rocky, were both born in the United States—as was their New York-raised father—so they're all U.S. citizens.
Rihanna's ties to Barbados remain close and deep.
In 2008, on the heels of the success of her single "Umbrella," then-Prime Minister David Thompson announced that her birthday, Feb. 22, would be National Rihanna Day in Barbados.
She was named an official culture and youth ambassador of Barbados a decade later.
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In November 2021, when Barbados first became an independent republic and cut its ties with British royalty and imperialism, the Fenty beauty founder was named a national hero, The Guardian reported.
Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley said in a speech at the time that she bestowed the honor on Rihanna for "[inspiring] the imagination of the world through the pursuit of excellence with her creativity, her discipline and above all else, her extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth."
She continued, "On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we therefore present to you the designee for national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty. May you continue to shine bright like a diamond."