Matt Barnes Says He's "Too Grown to Lie" About Dating Rihanna

This is Matt Barnes' story, and he's sticking to it.

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Complex Original

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After Matt Barnes implied that he was dating Rihanna during a TMZ Sports interview that took place last weekend, Rih-Rih shut the Grizzlies forward down with the quickness. She took to Instagram to post an unflattering photo of Barnes along with the hashtags #shesnotthatintoyou, #shesnotintoyouatall, and #shesneverevenmetyou.

But despite this, Barnes isn't backing down from what he told TMZ. Yesterday, he made an appearance on The Jim Rome Show and was asked about the Rihanna rumors. He contended that he's "too grown to lie" about them and basically said that he kept it 100 when speaking about the R&B singer.

"I'm too grown to lie," he told Jim Rome, "you know what I mean? It is what it is, I'm going to let this blow by like everything else blows by…I just smiled. I just smiled, that's it. What can you do? At the end of the day, we're all grown-ups. Like I said, I'm too grown to be lying about stuff, but life is life. You live and you learn."

Barnes also went on to say that he never lies, which is why people should believe him when he says that he's not lying with regards to Rihanna.

"In life in general, there's no need," he said. "I'm grown. My upbringing just doesn't allow me to have that kind of stuff in it. Life, sports, whatever it is, I'm just about the truth. I'm always going to be me, even if you know sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble. I'm always going to be me, because I speak on things I feel passionately about. So love me or hate me, I'm going to be me regardless."

You can go here to listen to Barnes' entire interview with Rome. Or if you're tired of the Rihanna stuff and you'd rather hear Barnes talk basketball, you can read our recent feature on him here. Either way, you buying his story?

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.

[via Jim Rome]

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