NBA
HomeScoresRumorsHighlightsDraftB/R Mock Draft
Featured Video
Felix Okpara Headed to Wizards ๐Ÿช„
AP

Rihanna Blasts Matt Barnes Over Budding Relationship Insinuations

Dan CarsonAug 17, 2015

In further evidence that public Rihanna thirsting is man's most dangerous game, Matt Barnes is likely reposing in a burn unit at Cedars-Sinai after being torched by the singer over public insinuations about a budding relationship between the two.

It began like so many other classic love stories: with TMZ cornering the former Los Angeles Clippers hitman in his downtime Sunday.

TOP NEWS

2026 NBA Draft - Round One

Every NBA Draft 1st-Round Pick

Tracking Every Trade ๐Ÿ”€

Grading Every 2nd-Round Pick ๐Ÿ” 

Asked if he and Rihanna were dating, Barnes said they were feeling things out.

"Rihanna's my friend right now so um we'll see where it goes... I think it just passed the crush stage, a little bit," Barnes said.ย 

Asked if the two would be strained by distance with Barnes signing on with the Memphis Grizzlies, he said he wasn't worried.

"Nah, she's rich," Barnes said. "We'll be all right."

Becoming more guarded, Barnes then called rumors of their dating "speculation."

"All that is rumors. All that is speculation," Barnes said. "We're friends, and we'll see where it goes from there."

If this doesn't makes sense to you, worry not.ย It appears to have made even less sense to Rihanna, who ran to Instagram after the interview and posted a screenshot of Barnes with hashtag-heavy captions rebutting his claims.

E Online's Bruna Nessif noted that Barnes commented, "Hahaaa wow" on the photo.

Well then.

If there's a rougher way to hit back against a "friend" than saying you've never even met them and that their claims of a relationship amount to defamation of character, I don't want to know what it is.

Reaction to Barnes' seemingly wishful thinking has been, well, not entirely kind:

In any case, uh, Barnes is soon-to-be single. So if you're a lady looking for a gentleman who will onlyย kind ofย put your business out there, and you live in Memphis or have a private jet, look him up.ย 

He'll be the guy covered head-to-toe in white gauze, because Insta-acid burns like hell.

Dan is on Twitter. The harsh climate of the Rihanna Desert claims yet another victim.

Felix Okpara Headed to Wizards ๐Ÿช„

TOP NEWS

2026 NBA Draft - Round One

Every NBA Draft 1st-Round Pick

Tracking Every Trade ๐Ÿ”€

Grading Every 2nd-Round Pick ๐Ÿ” 

2026 NBA London Game - Orlando Magic v Memphis Grizzlies

Report: Ja Likely Done in Memphis

Cleveland Cavaliers v Detroit Pistons

๐ŸšจPistons Trading Isaiah Stewart

C's 'Actively' Shopping Brown
Bleacher Reportโ€ข2h

C's 'Actively' Shopping Brown

Boston in trade talks with multiple interested teams (Shams)

TRENDING ON B/R