'Cotton Candy? Cupcake?': Pregnant Rihanna's New Outfit Sparks a Stir

The "Umbrella" singer has consistently redefined and elevated maternity style throughout her three pregnancies.

On August 5, Rihanna was spotted in Los Angeles wearing a striking archival outfit—a cotton candy-like dress. While fans are often smitten with her pregnancy style, this look didn’t quite captivate them, with many speculating about its food-inspired theme.

Rihanna's long, sleeveless, and colorful dress with a puffy top conceptualized shapes bubbling beneath the fabric’s stretched surface. The vibrant design featured crustacean-like embellishments and other bold, voluminous forms, creating a playful and eye-catching effect.

She completed the look with silver and neon green sneakers, and her unexpected attire sparked a flurry of opinions online.

One person bluntly wrote, "That dress is a nightmare." Another viewer couldn't help but comment on the singer's facial expression, "She looks so unhappy in it." An individual focused on the footwear, penning, "It's the football boots for me."

Someone else described the entire look, "It's giving gum ball machine." Another person chimed in, "Most expensive bag of cotton candy ever." A confused fan posed the ultimate fashion question, "Cotton candy? Cupcake? What is this monstrosity?"

More people shared their food-themed take, "If a tamale and a cotton candy had a baby." Yet not all comments were harsh. One user made room for understanding, saying, "She's pregnant and having a moment, we can forgive her for that outfit 😂."

One fan also came to the singer's defense, "Rihanna is not dressing for neither one of y'all. Everyone has there own fashion. LL et it go [sic]."

Rihanna's outfits often spark conversation — even during solemn occasions like her father's funeral. Her appearance at the service in Barbados drew attention online, with many fans focusing on her outfit choice rather than the emotional weight of the moment.

The singer's father, Ronald Fenty, was laid to rest in Barbados on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, following his death in May. She and her partner, A$AP Rocky, were among those who gathered to pay their respects.

The couple arrived at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, where the funeral celebration was held, with their two sons. Rihanna was photographed carrying their younger son, Riot, while Rocky followed closely behind with their elder son, RZA.

Ronald died at the age of 71 on May 30, 2025. His death was attributed to acute respiratory failure, pancreatic cancer, and aspiration pneumonia — a bacterial lung infection. His death certificate also listed acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis, both involving extensive kidney damage.

For the occasion, Rihanna wore a long, cream-colored ruched dress with draped sleeves. Rocky coordinated in a white button-down shirt, beige trousers, and a gray coat. Both wore sunglasses. Their children were dressed in matching black and gray suits.

Despite the solemn setting, some fans took to social media to express confusion over Rihanna's attire, questioning whether the dress was appropriate for a funeral. "She wants to be the center of attention, even in his father's funeral. These celebrities never get enough,[sic]" one netizen slammed.

"Isn't black the proper color to be in funeral ? Am I missing something ? [sic]" another echoed. "Why is she wearing white?" a third person questioned.

"So she was attending fashion shows in the meantime, [sic]" posted one of her critics. "This woman is always dragging her dresses on the floor. Girl pay for a hem. [sic]" someone commented.

Others sympathized with the singer, noting the difficulty of navigating grief while under the scrutiny of the public eye. "I could never be a celebrity because what do you mean there's paparazzi at my parents' funeral," one fan wrote.

Fans also expressed their sympathies to the Fenty family. One shared, "Condolences To The Family 🙏🏽 [sic]" while another added, "My sincerest condolences 🙏 So sorry for your loss🕊🤍." A third commented, "She looks absolutely gorgeous. What a beautiful family. Kids are adorable 😍 My Sincere Condolences 🙏 to the family. [sic]"

While Rihanna chose to attend the funeral and publicly mourn her father, their relationship had long been strained. The singer previously opened up about her feelings of betrayal after her father reportedly sold false stories about her to the press.

"It really makes me question what I have become to my father. Like, what do I even mean to him?" she wondered. "It's really strange. That's the only word I can think of to describe it, because you grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness' sakes! And then he does something so bizarre that I can't begin to wrap my mind around it."

Their relationship deteriorated further in 2019 when Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father for allegedly exploiting her name and brand.

She claimed that Ronald and another man, Moses Perkins, had launched a talent company named Fenty Entertainment and had been booking deals while pretending to represent her.

The court documents read, "Although Mr. Fenty is Rihanna's father, he does not have, and never has had, authority to act on Rihanna's behalf."

Among the disputed deals were a $15 million tour in Latin America and two U.S. concerts, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, worth $400,000. Rihanna denied any involvement in those negotiations.

She also alleged that Ronald falsely claimed the deals were approved by Roc Nation, her actual label, though the company was reportedly unaware of any such arrangements.

Despite sending multiple cease-and-desist letters, Rihanna said her father and his business partner continued their activities, ultimately prompting her to file the lawsuit seeking an injunction and unspecified damages.

After everything they went through, it appears Rihanna chose to put the past behind her and honor her father with a final goodbye. Her presence at the funeral, alongside her children and partner, suggests a moment of closure in an otherwise strained and painful relationship.