NEWSDon't Pardon Her French: Rihanna Sets the Record Straight on New Tattoo
Aug. 12 2010, Published 11:35 a.m. ET
After photos appeared of Rihanna’s new tattoo — which reads “Rebelle Fleur” — Internet pedants claimed that it was “gibberish” because she got the French phrasing wrong.
Au contraire, says Rihanna.
While Gawker.com argued that, since the adjective usually comes before the noun in French, the phrase that was inked on RiRi’s neck last week should say “Fleur Rebelle."
But in a text message that she sent to her tattoo artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy — which has been leaked exclusively to OK! — the “Rude Boy” singer says that the tat is right on the money.
She even predicted that the press would try to call her out on it!
She wrote: “rebelle fleur translates to rebel flower, NOT rebelious flower, its 2 nouns so in that case fleur does not HAVE to be first! Fyi, cuz they will ask".
- 'She's Having 2 Girls!': Rihanna Fans Are Convinced Singer Is Pregnant With Twins After She Drops Subtle Hint
- Shakira Accidentally Confirmed Rihanna's Pregnancy During Live Slip-Up at 2025 Met Gala: 'Am I Not Supposed to Say That?'
- Rihanna Is Pregnant! Singer Is Expecting Baby No. 3 With A$AP Rocky, Shows Off Bump at 2025 Met Gala
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
OK! GALLERY: RIHANNA'S RED HOT TATTOO TOUCH-UP
So it turns out Rihanna knows more about French than those hoity toity writers at Gawker do! We'd say "touché," but we don't really know French.
