From public appearances to emotional collaborations, Rihanna and Drake have exhibited dramatic emotions for years, fueling speculation regarding the nature of their enigmatic relationship or friendship.

Rihanna and Drake have played dramatic emotions for years, from emotional collaborations to public appearances, fuelling speculation about the status of the pair’s mysterious relationship or friendship.

When Rihanna and Drake were pushed into describing their relationship, the phrase “just friends” came up frequently. However, in a 2018 Vogue profile, Rihanna stated that they were no longer even friends.

Drake gave Rihanna the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2016, and told the world how much he loved her.

Rihanna & Drake Relationship Timeline:
Drake & Rihanna’s First Encounter in 2005

Before giving his speech at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, Drake told the crowd about the first time he met Rihanna. Rihanna met Drake at a restaurant in Toronto where the music video for “Pon De Replay” was being filmed. Drake “played background music at the restaurant while people ate their dinner.” The same director, Director X, who worked on Rihanna’s “Pon De Replay” video also directed Drake and Rihanna’s “Work” video many years later.

First Date on May 2009

Soon after Rihanna’s very public breakup with Chris Brown in 2009, which happened because Brown abused the singer, Page Six said that Drake and Rihanna were seen together at Lucky Strike in New York City. The reports said that Rihanna was “making out with him all night.”

Rihanna Says She and Drake Are ‘Still Friends’ in November 2009

Rihanna went on Angie Martinez’s radio show to talk about her breakup with Chris Brown, which made headlines, and the reports that she was dating Tristan Wilds, who was on 90210 at the time, and Drake. Speaking to Martinez, Rihanna shut down the rumors and revealed that she likes “hot and older” men and claimed that she and Drake were “still friends.” Martinez kept asking Rihanna if she thought the two artists were dating, but Rihanna kept saying there was never a relationship.

Drake thinks Rihanna used him as a “pawn” in June 2010

Drake said in an interview with The New York Times that he felt like Rihanna used him. Drake said, “I was a pawn.”

They worked together again on “What’s My Name?” in October 2010

When Drake and Rihanna worked together on Rih’s catchy song “What’s My Name?,” which went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it seemed like they forgot about their differences.

Drake Says Rihanna “Hurt” Him, So He Made “Fireworks” in October 2011

Drake told ELLE about the ideas that went into “Fireworks” and said that he was “hurt” because his relationship with Rihanna didn’t go the way he thought it would.

They Both Got Back Together Again for “Take Care” in November 2011

The two didn’t work together as hotly on “Take Care” as they did on “What’s My Name?,” but whispers still spread. The video for “Take Care,” which was released in April 2012, shows the two of them hugging and kissing each other the whole time.

Drake and Chris Brown fought over Rihanna in a club in June 2012

TMZ said that Drake and Chris Brown got into a fight at a bar in New York City. Drake subsequently claimed that he was unrelated to the altercation.

April 2013: Drake talks about the rumored beef with Chris Brown in a radio interview

There were rumors that Drake and Chris Brown were fighting, and Drake made things worse when he talked to Elliott Wilson for the Keep It Thoro show.

Drake gives a touching speech about Rihanna at the MTV VMAs in August 2016

Drake once more told Rihanna he loved her and talked about how he met her while she was filming the video for “Pon De Replay.”

In May 2018, Rihanna said that she and Drake are not friends

When she talked to Vogue, Rihanna briefly talked about her friendship with Drake. A writer for Vogue n said that Rihanna “winced” when Drake’s name was mentioned.

For All the Dogs lyrics by Drake seem to make fun of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in October 2023

When Drake released For All the Dogs on October 6, fans began to look for references to Rihanna and her friendship with A$AP Rocky in the lyrics.

Rihanna revealed in 2018 that she and Drake were no longer connected after years of being in an on-again, off-again relationship. Since then both have moved on since their breakup, with Rihanna welcoming her first child with longterm boyfriend A$AP Rocky in 2022.