The world of celebrity feuds is no stranger to drama, but few have been as long-standing and complicated as the bitter rivalry between Rihanna and Kendall Jenner. While it’s no secret that Rihanna has never been a fan of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, her disdain for Kendall runs particularly deep—and it’s about more than just a few offhand comments or social media spats. Over the years, the two have exchanged jabs, whether directly or indirectly, but it’s Rihanna’s recent revelations that have made it clear just how personal and complicated their relationship really is.

The Beginning of the Feud

The origins of this drama date back to 2012, when Kendall Jenner, just 16 years old at the time, took to Twitter with what many assumed was a harmless fangirl moment: a request for Rihanna to perform her favorite song, “Complicated.” Kendall tweeted, “If Rihanna doesn’t perform ‘Complicated’ tomorrow, I’m going to be very upset.” It may have seemed innocent, but Rihanna took it as a challenge. In her signature savage style, Rihanna clapped back, telling Kendall, “What? Don’t come.”

At first, some fans dismissed it as a minor exchange, but for Rihanna, it marked the beginning of a feud that would only escalate with time. For years, Kendall’s comments about Rihanna, both direct and indirect, would fuel an ongoing tension that would play out publicly.

The Victoria’s Secret Show Drama

The conflict between Rihanna and Kendall took a more serious turn in 2015 during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Rihanna was set to perform, but when she learned that her friend, British model Jourdan Dunn, had been replaced by Kendall Jenner for the show, she decided to pull out. The move was seen as an act of solidarity with Dunn, who had been unfairly replaced, but Rihanna’s decision sparked more than a few rumors. While her team claimed that Rihanna canceled due to her work on her album Anti, the public saw it as a direct response to Kendall’s appearance in the show.

Jourdan Dunn herself took to Twitter to express her satisfaction, saying that she felt much better about not doing the show after Rihanna made the same decision. The incident painted Rihanna as a friend fiercely protecting those she cared about, but it also solidified her resentment toward Kendall, who she felt had stolen her spotlight.

Kendall’s “Arrogance” and the Culture Vulture Label

Rihanna’s frustration with Kendall continued to build, especially after Kendall’s 2018 interview in Love Magazine. In the interview, Kendall made a comment that irked many in the fashion industry: “I was never one of those girls who would do 30 shows a season.” This statement was seen as tone-deaf by many models who worked hard to secure their places on the runway. Kendall’s privileged background and the fact that she had a family name to rely on left many feeling that her success was less about talent and more about her family’s influence.

Rihanna, a woman who has fought her way to the top with little support from a famous family, could not have been pleased by Kendall’s remarks. But the situation worsened when Kendall was awarded the Fashion Icon of the Decade award at New York Fashion Week—an honor that many felt should have gone to Rihanna. While Kendall had certainly racked up some impressive moments on the runway, her meteoric rise to fame seemed driven more by her name than her work. Rihanna’s fans didn’t take kindly to the recognition given to Kendall, and it wasn’t long before Rihanna was accused of throwing shade at Kendall during the 2018 Met Gala.

According to sources, Rihanna remarked, “Good thing I have the curves to pull this outfit off. I would hate to be a stick figure,” a comment widely believed to be aimed at Kendall, who is known for her slender figure. The incident fueled further animosity between the two, but this was only the beginning.

The Tequila Controversy

One of the most controversial moments came in 2021 when Kendall Jenner launched her tequila brand, 818. The move quickly sparked accusations of cultural appropriation, with many pointing out that Kendall, who has no deep ties to Mexico or its tequila-making tradition, was profiting off a culture she did not respect. A TikTok video from a Mexican woman exposed the issue, accusing Kendall of whitewashing tequila culture. The controversy was amplified when Kendall shared a video sampling her tequila on ice, a move that tequila experts and Mexican consumers found deeply disrespectful.

For Rihanna, this was just another example of what she had come to see as Kendall’s cultural vulture tendencies. Rihanna, who has long been praised for her efforts to support and honor Black culture through her music, fashion, and business ventures, found Kendall’s casual disregard for cultural sensitivity especially egregious. Kendall’s privilege, and her tendency to profit off of Black and Latinx cultures, only made the feud feel even more personal to Rihanna.

The Savage X Fenty Show Snub

While Kendall’s tequila brand made waves for all the wrong reasons, Rihanna took the opportunity to make yet another public statement about her disdain for Kendall—this time in the form of a snub. Rihanna notably banned Kendall Jenner from walking in her highly coveted Savage X Fenty fashion show, despite allowing her close friends like Gigi and Bella Hadid to walk in previous years. The decision was seen as a direct message to Kendall, further cementing her place as the “evil sister” in Rihanna’s eyes.

Sources close to Rihanna say that the singer’s issues with Kendall are rooted in more than just a few comments or business moves. Rihanna, who built her empire from the ground up, reportedly sees Kendall as someone who had everything handed to her on a silver platter. Kendall’s rise to fame, with the help of her family’s name, has been a point of contention for Rihanna, who believes that Kendall’s success is undeserved.

A Cultural Divide

The cultural divide between the two women also plays a significant role in this ongoing feud. Rihanna, who has made a point of incorporating and celebrating her Caribbean roots through her music and business, is deeply passionate about supporting her culture. Kendall, on the other hand, has been accused of taking from cultures without fully understanding or respecting their significance. This divide is stark and undeniable, and it’s something that has caused friction between the two for years.

Is There Any Hope for Reconciliation?

As of now, there is no indication that the tension between Rihanna and Kendall will die down anytime soon. Fans of both stars continue to debate the reasons for their ongoing feud, with some defending Rihanna for calling out Kendall’s privilege and others criticizing her for holding a grudge over seemingly trivial issues.

What is clear, however, is that Rihanna has no intention of backing down from her stance. Whether it’s through her Savage X Fenty fashion shows, her social media posts, or her personal interactions, Rihanna continues to make her feelings about Kendall Jenner known. For now, it seems that the feud between the two will only continue to simmer, with Rihanna remaining steadfast in her belief that Kendall is the “evil Kardashian sister.”

Conclusion

While celebrity feuds are nothing new, the animosity between Rihanna and Kendall Jenner has become a symbol of the divide between hard-earned success and privilege. As the drama continues to unfold, one thing is for sure: Rihanna has no plans of letting Kendall off the hook anytime soon.