NBA (DR) / Pierre Haessig

Officially retired since May 2023, Carmelo Anthony has previously left his mark on the minds of NBA fans on multiple occasions. For example, some have not forgotten his viral photo with… Rihanna, in which he ended up delivering a few revelations.

Over the years, she has regularly appeared on the edge of NBA courts , and more specifically in the front row of the Crypto.com Arena. Without really positioning herself as a big fan of the Lakers, Rihanna has attended several of their meetings to see LeBron James. It must be said that the King has (too) good relations with her , just like another legend of the league with whom he is friends.

Carmelo Anthony Finally Explains His Viral Photo With Rihanna

Besides LeBron, Rihanna has already had the opportunity to see Carmelo Anthony in his works on the courts. She has even crossed paths with him on other occasions in New York. This was the case in 2014, for example, as part of the traditional Met Gala that is held there every year. The two stars were also photographed together on this occasion and thus caused a buzz on social networks:

Even more than his presence alongside the famous artist, Melo had generated many reactions through his look at this photo. Ten years later, he returned to this funny scene in his podcast 7PM in Brooklyn with explanations:

Carmelo Anthony: I’ll tell you the real story. The Met had just closed and we were all there, having a good time.

Every time a celebrity came in, the cameras were going off. The room was small, there were all these flashes… It was a real commotion when you got in there. I had managed to get past the photographers and sit down. I was in my comfort zone and I was trying to keep it low profile. Except that then Rih showed up, the photographers went crazy and she had only one place to go.

I was standing there with my head down, thinking, “Please don’t come here!” When I looked up, there she was, posing. That’s why I was making that face.

Contrary to what Internet users may have believed, the glorious winger was therefore not admiring “Ri-Ri”, but rather… cursing her. As such, appearances can sometimes be deceptive.

At the time married, Carmelo Anthony had been accused of ogling Rihanna at the Met 2014, following the publication of a photo that clearly led him to believe so. However, this would only be a misunderstanding according to the speech offered by the main person concerned ten years later.