Inside A$AP Rocky’s Awkward First Encounter With Rihanna

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna remain one of Hollywood’s most talked‑about couples. They blend high‑profile careers with a bustling family life that continues to capture the attention of their fans. After going public with their romance several years ago, the duo has since welcomed three children together: sons RZA and Riot, and most recently, their daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers. In January 2026, Rocky recounted how he first met Rihanna under embarrassing circumstances. Here’s what he said happened.

A$AP Rocky said he was ‘in a daze’ when he first met Rihanna

Before A$AP Rocky and Rihanna became a power couple in the music industry, they sustained a friendship. They collaborated in 2012, giving the world a glimpse at what was to come. In January 2026, Rocky discussed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon what happened when he first met Rihanna.

“We met outside of a nightclub, ironically, in New York,” Rocky explained. “I wasn’t famous at the time. She was obviously Rihanna. And I couldn’t get in.” He noted that the bouncers at the club didn’t want to allow him into the establishment, though he was also with Virgil Abloh and Matthew Williams.

“And, you know, we were kind of getting into it with the bouncers,” the rapper continued, “and she kind of came out, and we locked eyes right away. And I was just like, in a daze. And, you know, I was a little embarrassed that she caught me bickering with the guard, and stuff like that.”

Rocky added that Rihanna didn’t help him get into the club, which received laughter from the crowd.