Rihanna secretly coaches fan through coming out process
As fan interactions go, this one is pretty cool: Rihanna has reportedly been serving as moral support for one young fan as he goes through the process of coming out of the closet.
A Rihanna fan -- who wishes to remain anonymous -- tells BuzzFeed that one direct message of support from the "Work" singer has blossomed into regular check-ins as he continues to come out to friends and family.
"Baby, it's OK to be scared, but it's more important to be who you are," Rihanna wrote in her first message to the fan. "You don't have a choice, really. That's not a decision to be made. You are who you are, and as hard as it may seem, the best s--t ever is freedom and peace within yourself."
"Your family may not understand, but luckily you live in a generation that does," she continued. "And not to mention the community here amongst us."
But the new besties didn't leave it there. The fan kept Rihanna updated on his progress as he told different close friend, with the pop star sending even more words of encouragement. "I"m so proud of you," Rihanna wrote. "I'm glad to see you finally happy with yourself. Being who you are is the only way."
The fan told BuzzFeed that Rihanna's messages of support have made him realize he shouldn't be ashamed of himself. And apparently he'll be able to thank her in person sometime in July, when he'll meet her during her "Anti" tour.