Rihanna’s recent and continuing press tour—which has served to promote her latest album Rated R and give her a chance to talk about the situation with Chris Brown—undoubtedly had a “bare it all” vibe to it.
She’s been brutally honest about the abuse and what happened that fateful February night before the Grammys. But she’s taken that “exposure” idea rather literally with the January issue of GQ, which features her topless on both the cover (see: yowza image at left) and in an accompanying pictorial for the magazine’s January issue (where there’s even more yowza). Rated R? Indeedy.
Honestly, there’s not much left to the imagination here. While topless photo shoots are no revelation for GQ, it just adds another layer to the whole Rihanna makeover initiative. And now, we’re being beaten over the head with it, in case you didn’t know/realize: Rihanna is edgy! And sexy! And grown up! She’s going topless! She’s a hard-ened woman, dammit!
I’m totally fine with Rihanna’s decision to take it off. She’s a grown lady, she can do what she wants, and there’s a certain “I am woman, hear me roar!” vibe to this. But I do think it’s interesting because of what Rihanna means to young girls, and the role model image she’s been cultivating. Through all of her press tour, she’s emerged as an advocate for women who may be going through what she did.
And now, the top comes off on the cover of a men’s magazine? I mean, I guess the two things—her speaking out against domestic abuse and taking off her clothes—are not mutually exclusive. But it’s a sort of odd dichotomy, if you ask me.
But what do you think? Are you startled by Rihanna’s decision to bare it all on GQ? Do you think it jives with the rebrand Ri-Ri has been working on since her personal troubles earlier this year? Are you intrigued enough to pick up a copy of the magazine?
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desperation. when you have almost no talent (or dignity), this is what you do.
I agree — desperation or she needs the cash…but if she needed the cash she would be on Playboy (maybe that’s next). Her album is not in the top 5 which is rare for her….desperation.
Jealous much? sex sells. sorry you dont have anything anyone wants
women of america – you can have it all if you take it all off – wonder why she had “the man” problem… just take a look at what she does after the “incident” wow – what a way to be over “that guy”
Not really sure why you think she has no dignity, but the fact of the matter is that we live in modern times, where it has officially become accepted and isn’t that big of a deal when a woman (who nobody seemed to have a problem with dancing sexually, covered in silver paint) decides to pose provocatively in and on the cover of a magazine. So what? Angelina has done it many times over, and she is respected as an actress and humanitarian. I don’t ever remember anyone accusing her of a lack of dignity. She was just chalked up as being weird, or marching to the beat of her own drum. I think that posing in GQ, while it may seem kind of strange just a few months after her raw interview on tv, isn’t really that big of a deal, and I don’t find it desperate at all. Plus, she would have taken these pictures and signed on for the feature long before her album failed to perform.
Your argument is flawed. You are arguing that it is okay, because many people do it. No, that does not make it okay. It simply makes it common. If you want dignity, dont degrade yourself in this manner.
Paige, why is his argument flawed and yours isn’t? Who is it who decided it’s not okay, and why is this person right but the person who thinks it is okay is wrong?
reeks of desperation. Her nasal “singing” is awful so what else can she do… Playboy: you’re next.
Rihanna is a grown woman and she makes her own choices.She has a great body and she’s simply showing it off.All of these negative comments are uncalled for,men and women show skin when they are proud of the appearance. Leave the Girl alone!!!
actually when rihanna was on top of the world with Umbrella she did a semi-nude cover for GQ.
she looks freakin hot. sorry, ive never considered her to be a role model for young girls. her songs and image have always had a grown up vibe … definitely not Disney. seems rather ignorant to automatically dismiss her fight against domestic violence because she chooses to sex up her public/stage image. didnt Jennifer Anniston, america’s sweethart, pose in the NUDE last yr? didnt see many people cry foul then.
Good point. There have been plenty of female celebs who have posed nude/semi-nude on the covers of all sorts of magazines. Why would we call out Rihanna as having no dignity? Maybe we like our victims demure and wholesome?
What you consider her to be is not the point. SHE says that she is a role model to young girls. First, she tells them to send naked pictures to their boyfriends, then she does NOTHING to help other victims of DV. Not one commercial, not one day of work at a shelter, nothing.
All you have to do is google her name and you can find actual naked pictures she took of herself that leaked online. Seeing her half naked isn’t really that big of a deal once she did that.
The only people who ever complain in these situations about “dignity” blah blah blah are fat housewives who dont have anything that anyone wants. They project their jealousies and insecurities on women like Rihanna. Get on the treadmill and stop worrying that your husband is going to leave you for someone skinnier and better looking, and maybe you’ll feel a little different.
first of all i’m not a fat housewife. i’m a 21 yo female grad student at Yale. second of all, i’m not jealous of Rihanna. she has absolutely nothing that i want (now if i were to be jealous of anyone it would be someone like Alicia Keys–drop dead gorgeous, supremely talented and classy). the only people (like yourself, *Hutchy*), who accuse others of jealousy, are people who are simple. you think the only reason i would criticize Rihanna is b/c i’m jealous of her. i’m not, b/c i’m not simple. i actually have a brain which i like to use. i think she does provocative things to camouflage the fact that she has little to no talent. it’s how she gets the attention she craves.
You’re talking nonsense BOY! I am an attractive fifty seven year old and I have real problems with Rihanna constantly being linked to Barbados.She is not a positive role model or representative as an ambassador of culture.She is naked everywhere and she made bajan women look as if they like to be abused. She is essentially what we think a lot of Guyanese are .Like her mother she thinks more of materialistic gain than self respect.She is not a Barbadian by birth or by nature.Her only link to Barbados is her “red-legs” father and Grandmother.
I loved that!!!!!! She sexy and beautiful. I am a woman btw! Go talk about Miley (16 yrs old) for a change and leave this poor grown up girl alone!!!
Wow, she’s hot.
Her music is electronic awfulness.
Is she trying for a career in Porn or Pop???? It’s TOO MUCH!! The real question is, is she even selling any albums? What is her standing on the charts?? Seems like she’s shedding more clothes each week and releasing a new single every other week, not a good sign. She is looking DESPERATE for attention, enough with the no-clothes. She needs to cover herself up and do something about that hair and take a singing lesson or two.
She is trying so hard to be sexy yet she always fails. Even when she’s showing her tattas, she has no sex appeal at all, none whatsover. Shelooks a dude.
she looks a dude?
She’s selling her image (read: arse) because she doesn’t have much talent (read: actual singing ability).
And also, anytime she takes her cloths off it looks like child porn.
I’d stand under that um-ber-ella…ella…ellla.
The pictures are hot. Why are people so afraid of nudity?
afraid – no – just wondering about the timing – album, man, singing, blah blah
The attitudes about nudity in this country are very priggish. This cover is not a big deal and further it’s a MEN’s magazine. Young girls are not reading GQ typically. It’s one thing to be an example to others but we can only be ourselves. Ms. Fente is from the Caribbean, where this type of photo is no big deal. The person who said she looks like a dude needs major glasses.
*Sigh* Immodesty is not good. Nudity belongs somewhere…just not on the cover of a magazine.
Sounds like you’re jealous that you can’t be on the cover of a mag, make millions, and be totally gorgeous!!
Your articles are for when it absolutely, positively, needs to be unerdostod overnight.
She is desperate and cant sing for crap.. she has a huge forehead and sounds like a cat getting choked or something when she sings.. she is doing all this for attention.. she needs another butt whoopen
Jealous much? Haha. Rihanna is looking hot! If you got it, flaunt it. I like her new image and so what if this is her way of getting over the whole situation. Oh yeah, her new album is great. Love every song on it. Also, there isn’t one auto tuned song on the album, she sings beautifully and always has.
you must be deaf b/c EVERY song is auto-tuned. every last one.
whack
You sound really jealous and old. Whatever. She’s on a men’s magazine! All the girls who pose for GQ are usually half naked anyway. Men love her. So who cares if you hate her. Million of people all over this world love her. I bought her album too and love all the songs. I am a 21 year old and I think it’s really empowering to young women to dress and be sexy. Call me a ho, but I ain’t hurting anyone. LOL.
you’re a ho. coming from another 21 yo.
I too wonder how the album is doing, anybody know? Is it considered a hit? Her nasal-sounding voice is awful, no wonder she strips to get noticed.
Her album has been getting excellent reviews and it has already sold over a million copies worldwide. Her last single peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 and her second single “Hard” is currently #18 on the Hot 100. her third single is “Firebomb” and it’s gonna be a huge hit.
Her album was selling for $.99
In the U.S. it’s a bomb so stop lying. She sucks. I use to like her but now she’s annoying.
To Bella: They gave her good review because not only she;s a woman, but they feel sorry about her. She’s a man-hating lesbian now after CB beat her to a pulp, that’s what she gets for trying to beat up men.
I have questioned whether she was gay for quite some time now. My gaydar pops up when I see her or hear her talk.
Although I agree with Jemma, it’s gross that there are creeps like Urvy anywhere, much less on this thread.
I don’t understand if you can sing why take your clothes off
because she can – for money and fame – anything is possible
I have no problem with that!
I agree. Ever since she became a devil worshiper she changed.
So let me get this straight – Rihanna said a few weeks ago that she was “humiliated” when the naked photos she took for her ex were released online, and now she’s naked on the cover of GQ? Sure, that makes a lot of sense.
There’s a big difference between private pictures you took for yourself or your lover being released and professional pictures that you have control over being released. So yeah, it makes sense.
Agreed. Private is private, and when someone violates that privacy, and your trust, it’s devastating. I would be humiliated, too, if private pictures that I never intended the rest of the world to see were released by someone I once trusted.
You guys have a point. Thanks for politely sharing your opinion : )
Love it♥
Hate it
Love it.
Love it more
I am back on the bandwagon. I forgive you Rhianna for looking like an alien for 2 years. I am able to look past that now.
look past or at…..
Rihanna needs to understand that her fan base are young women. Her record company is wrong for trying to sex up her image. The woman is beautiful, but this over sex kitten image will fail. She will realize this later….SMH.
Maybe she’s tired of looking like a doll. Britany Spears has done a lot of trailer trash things and she was just voted MTV’s #6 best female. Everyone has to live and learn. No one is blasting you for your mistakes.