Sixers big man Joel Embiid dropped 26 points on the Celtics last night in road victory — and then proceeded to dunk on Rihanna.
In a post-game interview with TNT, Embiid was asked if he wanted to say anything to the young woman “who told you to come back when you’re an all-star.” After making the all-star team earlier on Thursday, Embiid didn’t feel like giving his celeb temptress — long speculated to be Rihanna — a second chance.
“She denied me back then, so why go with her again?” said an amused Embiid. “I have to pass that and move onto the next one.”
Embiid might have to pass on Rihanna… pic.twitter.com/nDmhyDYKup
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) January 19, 2018
TNT analyst Reggie Miller immediately jumped in: “Ohhh, did he just turn Ri-Ri down on national [television]… what?!”
The genesis of the Embiid-Rihanna failed romance stems from a 2014 tweet, when he said a “famous girl” told him she wasn’t interested unless he was an all-star. Ouch.
This is the truth… I was trying to get with this famous girl and she said " Come back when you're a All Star" bruhh pic.twitter.com/CFBnRqnKMA
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) August 17, 2014
But he’s made his crush on “Badgirl Ri-Ri” obvious for a while now on social media — only adding fuel to fire.
Had a great dream about Rihanna last night NO LIES!!!!!
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) August 4, 2014
Yes, he even referred to her as “bae” once.
You're BAE for real… Great seeing you last night??? @rihanna
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 3, 2015
After the game on Thursday night, fans quickly flooded Rihanns’s Instagram feed, tagging Embiid.
We’re still holding out hope “JoelAnna” becomes an item.