A Look At Rihanna's Relationship History

When Rihanna first graced the music world with her unique brand of R&B-infused pop and electronica in the mid-2000s, the public was immediately smitten with this enigmatic songstress. And, before long, a whole generation of RiRi stans were born. A nine-time Grammy Award-winner, the multitalented musician has had to work extremely hard to snag the enviable superstar status that she now enjoys. Subsequently, her commitment to her craft has often meant that work comes before play, and Ri has never been one to give up her professional duties for a man.

”Guys need attention,” RiRi once told The New York Times. ”They need that nourishment, that little stroke of the ego that gets them by every now and then. I'll give it to my family, I'll give it to my work — but I will not give it to a man right now.” Accordingly, the singer has generally favored brief dalliances to long-term serious relationships throughout the years, though it appears that she has finally found a lover worthy of that almighty, aforementioned ego stroke.

It takes a lucky man to be in the presence of Queen Ri, and the guys on this list are among a select few who have allegedly locked lips with the Barbadian beauty. Let's take a look at Rihanna's relationship history: keep reading to find out who made her feel like the Only Girl in the world and who was a straight-up Rude Boy (we're looking at you, Drizzy).

Remember Josh Hartnett? Everyone's favorite early 2000s pretty boy was reportedly getting super cozy with RiRi circa 2007. At the time, Rihanna gushed about having her heart set on Hartnett. During an appearance at the World Music Awards (via Mirror), Rihanna apparently said of Josh, "I've fallen for him big time. I would be lying if I told you we were not more than just friends. He is so hot and he is really sweet to me. When we hang out it feels right — even though it's still pretty new."

However, she later emphatically said that the pair were not dating. "I went to [the New York club] Pink Elephant, and he came by," she told Allure (via People). "All of a sudden, the next day, I'm seeing that we were kissing and hugging up each other." She continued, "You can't even go out with a friend who's a celebrity and have a good time without people making [bleep] up. Well, at least he's good-looking, right?" That he is indeed, Ri.

A couple of years later, she was also linked to Shia LaBeouf, who dished on their one and only date to Playboy (via MTV). The actor claimed that he didn't pursue a relationship with Ri beyond the first date because "The spark wasn't there. We weren't passionate about each other in that way." Considering LaBeouf's shocking behavior in recent years, we can't help but think this was for the best.

Drake has made no secret of his infatuation with Rihanna. The pair were linked in May 2009 when Page Six reported that they were hanging at Lucky Strike where Ri was "drinking whiskey and apple juice and making out with him all night." However, they first met years earlier, when Rihanna was filming the music video for "Pon de Replay" in Toronto, as Drake revealed at the VMAs.

The couple had frequent ups and downs, with Drake often complaining about his ex to the press. In 2010, he claimed to The New York Times that Rihanna used him like "a pawn," then, a year later, he told Elle that RiRi "hurt" him. But it was clear that Drizzy was dizzy in love.

At the 2016 VMAs, Drake gushed about Rihanna when presenting her with the Vanguard Award. "She's someone I've been in love with since I was 22 years old," he confessed as Rihanna rolled her eyes, not looking entirely enthusiastic with this bold declaration of love in front of a live audience. Sure enough, Rihanna admitted in a Vogue interview that Drake's speech made her feel uneasy. "Waiting through that speech was probably the most uncomfortable part. I don't like too many compliments; I don't like to be put on blast," she said. When asked whether she was still close with Drizzy, she revealed that they "don't have a friendship now, but we're not enemies either."

During an Instagram Live (obtained by Hollywood Life), mid-2000s hip-hop one hit wonder Soulja Boy cranked out some absurd claims. In 2017, the rapper told his millions of Insta followers that he was responsible for the rift between Chris Brown and Rihanna, with whom he claimed he had a tryst "four or five" years earlier. "What happened?" he asked. "Me and Rihanna was in the hotel room, Chris [Brown] called my phone, asking if I was with Rihanna [and having sex]." Then, apparently addressing Brown, Soulja Boy said, "Nobody would have known... if it wasn't for you. You're an idiot. You exposed yourself. Now everybody knows I had both of your b****es."

Soulja Boy appeared on "Hollywood Unlocked" to further address his supposed relationship with the "Diamonds" star, claiming that she was the one who initiated their fling. "She called my management ... I've never had nothing my whole life — that's Rihanna!" The rapper then alleged that Rihanna called him and invited him back to her hotel room at 1am, dressed in a skimpy robe, before confiding in the rapper about Chris Brown's violent treatment of her. "What he really mad about is that I was with Rihanna," he said of his beef with Chris Brown, alleging that an irate Brown called him to ask whether he had sex with his ex.

It should be noted that Rihanna hasn't confirmed any of Soulja Boy's assertions, so perhaps he should crank that gossip.

In 2011, Rihanna was apparently feeling hot and bothered over boxer and model Dudley O'Shaughnessy. During her time in the U.K., the Daily Mail reported that Ri was partying with the brooding Brit well into the early hours of the morning and the two left together in a limo. She had previously set sights on the hunk when filming her music video for "We Found Love," which stars O'Shaughnessy and sees the pair engaging in a series of passionate make-out sessions before things take a darker turn. The duo got into trouble when making the vid, which was filmed on a farm in the U.K., when local farmer Alan Graham asked the songstress to "cover up," per the BBC.

But, according to insiders, Rihanna could hardly cover up her lust for her co-star. "Rihanna was making no secret that she fancied the pants off Dudley," an insider told The Sun (via Daily Mail). "They hit it off straight away. She had seen his modelling shots and other pictures when he was a boxer. Rihanna took every opportunity to get close to him and at one point she was sitting in his lap during a break from filming."

However, it seems that Rihanna's supposed ardor didn't manifest into a relationship. During an appearance on "The Ellen Show" at the time, the host showcased a photo of O'Shaughnessy and his steely peepers, but Ri firmly insisted that she was "not dating anybody."

Karim Benzema is a French international soccer star, who plays for Real Madrid. The sportsman was linked to Rihanna in 2015, though their apparent romance seemed to fizzle after less than two years. In June 2015, E! reported that the pair were enjoying a summer of love. After being snapped snuggling at a restaurant, an onlooker dished on their dalliance. "Rihanna and Karim were seating across from each other," the source revealed. "There were about four people at the table and a few more in another table from the same party. They came separately and they were speaking French at some point." We can't help but wonder if Ri and Benzema were sharing more than French tongues.

The following month, E! reported that "the two have a great time together and are taking things slow. They have an amazing connection and always have a wonderful time when they are together."

In 2017, those close to Benzema said the couple had called it quits. Sources told Spanish mag Don Balon Rosa (via The Sun) that it was Ri who called off the relationship, apparently telling her beau that she simply wasn't over her ex, Chris Brown. "Rihanna loved Karim, and with him she had a lot of fun," the insider said. "But she told him she did not want to break his heart, and she confessed that she'll always love Chris Brown. Rihanna said it was difficult to compete."

He may be embroiled in the antics of the Kar-Jenners — and the aftermath of his disastrous Astroworld festival – these days, but Travis Scott enjoyed a low key romance with Rihanna during a seemingly more simple time.

In September 2015, E! announced that Rihanna and Scott were "officially dating." A source claimed, "It's already very serious. He's very into her." TMZ published snaps of the rumored couple in the throes of a steamy make-out sesh at a fashion week afterparty. It seems that Rihanna's eagerness to pack on the PDA with Scott may be due to his, ahem, skills in the sack. "Rihanna and Travis are uncontrollable when it comes to sex," a source alleged to Hollywood Life.

In an interview with Complex, Scott remained coy when asked about RiRi, but he did describe his reported lady love as "creative," "inspiring," and a "muse." The outlet also notes that Scott was tardy "because he's holed up with Rihanna, his recently rumored love interest/girlfriend/friend-with-benefit."

Complex editor Lawrence Schlossman later said that Scott was infuriated with him for revealing his romance with Rihanna. "I broke the news about him and Rihanna, which they told me not to do," Schlossman told the "Throwing Fits" podcast. Why? Well, apparently Ri was embarrassed for the public to know she was dating Scott, hence their lowkey romance. "Rihanna's like, 'Don't tell anyone that I'm smashing Travis Scott, please. [It's] obviously embarrassing as f***,'" Schlossman added.

Talk about musical power couples. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were initially spotted getting close at a concert in New York in 2020, though they first collaborated almost a decade earlier on the remix for the saucy track "Cockiness (Love It)." Shortly after her split with Hassan Jameel in January 2020, a source dished to The Sun about Rihanna's new liaison. "They shared a hotel suite during that trip in New York," the insider revealed. "However, Rihanna is reluctant to put a label on it as it's so soon after Hassan. They're really enjoying each other's company and taking things easy as it's still early days."

By December 2020, People reported that Rihanna was "very happy" with Rocky and the pair had "been inseparable." In an interview with GQ, Rocky declared his love for Ri. "The love of my life," he revealed, adding, "I think when you know, you know. She's the One."

In January 2022, Rihanna and Rocky revealed that they were expecting their first child after the stylish duo were snapped cradling Ri's baby bump. "Being with Rocky opened her up to the idea. She couldn't be happier and is so excited to be a mom," a source told People. The announcement appeared to spark jealousy in Rihanna's ex, Drake, who swiftly posted a series of cryptic, morose posts on Instagram. It seems that some people just had to rain on Ri's parade. Sorry Drake, you'll never be under her umbrella.