Are Rihanna And LeBron James Secretly Dating? Rumors Resurface After Singer Posts Instagram Tribute To LeBron
Are Rihanna and LeBron James secretly a couple?
As is apparently an annual NBA Playoffs tradition, rumors are circulating that the singer may be in a secret relationship with the married Cleveland Cavaliers star. Rihanna sparked the rumors this week by sharing a skin-baring bikini picture in which she decorated her stomach with sunscreen in the shape of a 23, which just happens to be LeBron’s jersey number.
James was also tagged in the photo.
The picture caused a stir among Rihanna’s Instagram followers, and led to speculation that she and LeBron are maintaining some kind of relationship. As Hollywood Life noted, the two already have something of a close history.
“As we know, RiRi is a huge fan of LeBron’s, and has even flown across the country on his private plane to see him play basketball. When attending a game with her girlfriend Melissa Forde in 2015, in a video posted to Melissa’s Instagram page you hear Rihanna say, ‘LeBron, here we come, baby!'”
For LeBron James, the focus for the past month has been on the hardwood. He had led the Cleveland Cavalier to a spotless 10-0 record in the NBA Playoffs that includes a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers are on a quest to reach the NBA Finals again and avenge last year’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. So far, they appear well on the way to a potential rematch.
This is something of a personal series for LeBron, who is playing the favorite team of Rihanna’s ex (and rumored occasional hook-up) Drake.
“LeBron and Drake are boys and they’re cool but tonight, LeBron’s loyalties are to his teammates,” a source told Hollywood Life. “He doesn’t know if Drake’s going to be in the building, being the cheerleader that he is and trash talking him as he supports the Raptors. But if he is, that’s cool. LeBron could care less.”
A nearly identical story hit the Internet almost exactly one year ago, when the Cleveland Cavaliers were kicking off Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Rihanna reportedly flew out to the game on LeBron’s private jet and was seen sitting courtside to root on LeBron and his teammates.
Later, reporters said Rihanna was spotted outside the Cavaliers’ locker room calling for LeBron in an attempt to get his attention. While there was no actual evidence that LeBron James and Rihanna were dating, the appearance got the rumor mill churning.
At the time, Rihanna was allegedly ending one relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio and had been seen dating French soccer player Karim Benzema.
A source told the Hollywood Gossip that Rihanna and Benzema got very close during a late-night group date not long before her trip to cheer on LeBron.
“Rihanna and Karim were across from each other … There were about four people at the table and a few more in another table from the same party. They came separately and they were speaking French.”
There are some who speculate that Rihanna’s Instagram post may just be a playful attempt to distract James and give an advantage to the Toronto Raptors and her on-again, off-again lover, Drake.
Rihanna set a thirst trap for Lebron James last night https://t.co/P5PPjasd5j pic.twitter.com/54QRvVZ2IH
— HYPEBEAST Music (@hypebeastmusic) May 20, 2016
But, despite the rumors of an illicit relationship, there are some major doubts that LeBron James and Rihanna are actually dating. For one, LeBron has been happily married to his wife, Savannah Brinson, for the last 3 years. The couple met when they were students at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School in Akron, Ohio, and have now been together for close to 13 years.
[Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
