Following her endorsement of Florida Democrat Andrew Gillum for governor Sunday, Rihanna responded to Washington Post reporter Phillip Rucker's tweet about the bizarre nature of Trump rallies, where her music is part of the blaring soundtrack.
"It’s been said a million times, but here’s a million and one — Trump’s rallies are unlike anything else in politics. Currently, Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” is blaring in Chattanooga as aides toss free Trump T-shirts into the crowd, like a ball game. Everyone’s loving it," Rucker said.
Rucker was reporting from Trump's rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the president is campaigning on behalf of the Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn.
Although he didn't include Rihanna's handle in the tweet, the singer responded by sharing her discontent with the wrongful affiliation to Trump and his rallies.
"Not for much longer...me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip!" Rihanna wrote.
This isn't the first time that Rihanna's music has been reportedly blasted during Trump's racist rallying calls. In The New York Times' adaptation of Trump rallies into a "Play in Three Acts," Rihanna's music is mentioned in Act II Scene II. "They trickle into the arena, buying slices of pizza, taking selfies with Trump-era celebrities and dancing along to the same playlist at every rally: songs by Rihanna, Tina Turner and Journey."
Late last month, Pharrell was similarly angered when he found out his music was a part of the Trump soundtrack. Pharrell's lawyer Howard King sent Trump a cease-and-desist after the song "Happy" was reportedly played at a Midwest rally following the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburg.
"On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged 'nationalist,' you played his song 'Happy' to a crowd at a political event in Indiana," King wrote in the letter.
Aerosmith has also sent two cease-and-desists to Trump after the group's song "Livin' on the Edge" was included in Trump's rallying playlist.
