In a new cover story for The New York Times' Style Magazine, Rihanna sat down with director, screenwriter, actor, author and artist Miranda July. The interview spans a number of revealing topics, as Rihanna said that she posts everything on her own Instagram, and that she Googles about childbirth in her spare time for whatever reason. From there, no topic is off limits to RiRi, as she talks sex, what turns her on and racism in the industry, while not holding anything back.
On what she searches on the internet, Rihanna says "Oh, random things. Like I will be sitting around Googling childbirth. Childbirth is putting it the non-gross way. I was searching the size of certain things, and how much they expand, and then what happens after..." Rihanna goes on to discuss men and why they just don't fit her in life right now. ‘‘Guys need attention,’’ she explains. ‘‘They need that nourishment, that little stroke of the ego that gets them by every now and then. I’ll give it to my family, I’ll give it to my work — but I will not give it to a man right now.’ Although Riri does discuss what turns her on. ‘‘I’m turned on by guys who are cultured. That’ll keep me intrigued. They don’t have to have a single degree, but they should speak other languages or know things about other parts of the world or history or certain artists or musicians. I like to be taught. I like to sit on that side of the table."
The interview also questions Rihanna's feelings on race, and more specifically, if she felt aware of race in a different way when she first moved to New York from Barbados. "People are judging you because you’re packaged a certain way -- they’ve been programmed to think a black man in a hoodie means grab your purse a little tighter," she told July. "For me, it comes down to smaller issues, scenarios in which people can assume something of me without knowing me, just by my packaging. ...That never ends, by the way. It’s still a thing. And it’s the thing that makes me want to prove people wrong. It almost excites me; I know what they’re expecting and I can’t wait to show them that I’m here to exceed those expectations.’’
