Carmelo Anthony recently set the record straight about a viral photo from the 2014 Met Gala featuring him and Rihanna. Fans had speculated that Anthony, then married, was captivated by Rihanna’s presence. However, Anthony revealed the photo’s context on his podcast. The photo was a product of intense camera flashes, not infatuation. Rihanna, meanwhile, has hinted at moving away from music.
In a world where viral moments capture public imaginations, one such moment has been explained by none other than Carmelo Anthony. The former NBA star addressed a buzzing topic from the 2014 Met Gala: a photo of him that appeared to show him mesmerized by Rihanna. Fans joked that Anthony was ready to “risk it all” for the iconic singer. However, during his podcast, “7PM in Brooklyn,” Anthony set the record straight, sharing the real story behind the image.
Anthony detailed the chaotic atmosphere of the afterparty, filled with celebrities and camera flashes. “It was after the Met [Gala]. I think the afterparty was at Darby or Up&Down. We’re already in there, having a good time,” he recalled. Upon Rihanna’s entrance, the room erupted with camera flashes, and Anthony found himself inadvertently in the spotlight.
He explained how he tried to maintain a low profile amidst the frenzy. “I finally walk in there, get through the cameras and sit down. I found my comfort zone, trying to be low,” he said. Despite his efforts, Rihanna’s arrival created a spectacle. Anthony found himself directly in the path of blinding camera flashes.
With humor and candidness, Anthony described the moment when he glanced up from his seat, right at the moment Rihanna posed for photographers. “And the cameras is going, and I’m like [looks up unimpressed],” he said, adding, “It was the flashes and like, ‘Damn, why you come over here and make it hot?'” He expressed a clear need to clarify the situation, noting it wasn’t romance causing the stir, but rather the relentless flashes of cameras.
Rihanna, for her part, has been juggling various projects outside of music. Recently at a Fenty Beauty launch in Barbados, Rihanna seemed to hint at a shift in her career focus, suggesting she might be moving away from music. She remarked that music initially drew public attention to her but mentioned that her journey had taken a different direction.
Rihanna expressed gratitude towards her community and the freedom she feels in her endeavors outside of music. She stated, “I cannot express to you guys what this day means for me to be able to celebrate with the people that deserve it the most, the community that has always propelled me to the next place and given me the strength and the grace.”
Carmelo Anthony’s amusing explanation highlights how viral impressions can be misleading, while Rihanna seems to embrace new paths beyond music.