The MTV Video Music Awards have been unchartered waters for the black metal community, but that has changed forever now that Rihanna has put her name up in distressed, black metal styling for all to witness.
Not only was the distressed ‘RIHANNA’ image on display, several of her back up dancers wore the design as merch. This may bring unwelcome flashbacks to the Metallica merch worn by Justin Bieber during his Purpose tour, but people actually seem pretty stoked with Rihanna’s effort.
Of course, not all fans are pleased. Unconvinced with the cultural appropriation of their genre, some fans are even questioning whether or not Rihanna even knows who killed Death (Hint: His corpse ended up as their album artwork), or if she’s even burned down any churches at all.
However, considering her name is already Ri-Ri, we doubt she’ll struggle with the pig squeals. Catch some of Rihanna’s 2016 VMAs performance (featuring her new logo) below, alongside some online reactions.
Watch: Rihanna Performs At 2016 MTV VMAs
We've got the cool. They've got the money. They'll take from our culture and water it down for mass consumption.https://t.co/A4pZDPvWfO
— Crowbane (@stormbeard) August 29, 2016
where tf do I get a Rihanna death metal logo shirt
— maddie g (@weirrdhoney) August 29, 2016
Rihanna please stop appropriating black metal culture if you've never been to Scandinavia
— The Good Evan (@evcon) August 29, 2016
@rihanna If you ever put out that shirt with the death metal logo, I will buy one. That is all.
— Steve Taylor (@zombieparmesan) August 29, 2016
If Rihanna made a t shirt of that black metal logo id buy 4 pic.twitter.com/5kPTXELUMr
— John (@john_bazley) August 29, 2016
