“Nothing makes me feel good than being invisible”– Rihanna

Barbadian music icon, Rihanna has said that racism in the United Kingdom is as rife as it is in the United States, stating that black people across the globe were suffering in the hands of the police. 

This was disclosed in a recent interview with British Vogue where she spoke on  a wide range of topics which included racist behaviors in both countries.

“I think police brutality is probably extremely severe in the United States, but racism is alive everywhere, ” she explained. “It’s the same [in the United Kingdom].”

“It’s either clamorous, which is becoming a norm, or it’s underlying, where people don’t even know they are being obvious about it, ” she added. “It’s just a subconscious layer that’s embedded from their entire core.”

The  singer cum entrepreneur, who has been living in the United Kingdom for almost three years disclosed that she was “invisible” whenever she walked the streets of London, saying that the locals of the St. Johns Wood area, where she lives in London, were “too boogie” to worry about her.

“I like it because they’re too boogie to give a sh*t about who I am,” the star smiled. “When I walk into some places, I am invisible. And nothing makes me feel better than being invisible.”

Rihanna has made it part of her obligation to amplify the plight of the underprivileged in society, especially, people of color. In February this year, her NAACP Image Awards acceptance speech went viral after she encouraged everyone to ”pull up” to support under-served communities and those that have been denied justice regardless of their background.

Meanwhile, the pandemic which has put the world on hold has made Rhianna exhibit her generous act yet again. The philanthropist and social justice advocate, donated $5 million through her foundation to various organizations assisting with coronavirus relief efforts.

“When we first started this year, never could we have imagined how (Covid-19) would so dramatically change our lives,” the foundation said.

“It doesn’t matter where you are coming from or who you are, this pandemic affects us all. And for the world’s most vulnerable, the worst may be yet to come.”

The foundation donated the money to Direct Relief, Feeding America, Partners in Health, The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the International Rescue Committee, among others. The foundation said its aim is “to immediately mobilize a broad response working with on-the-ground partners.”