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Rihanna defended by playwright Jeremy O.Harris after she texts during Broadway performance of 'Slave Play'

Getty Images
Getty Images

Rihanna has had a busy couple of weeks between her groundbreaking Savage x Fenty presentation at New York Fashion Week and hosting her annual fundraiser, the Diamond Ball.

But somewhere in between all this Rihanna also attended a Broadway play - but her attendance at the play has since drawn criticism for her behaviour during the performance.

The Fenty entrepreneur attended a Sunday performance of playwright Jeremy O. Harris’ production Slave Play, which has won rave reviews and been celebrated for lowering the average ticket price to make theatre more accessible. O. Harris, who is close friends with the star and attended her Diamond Ball party, shared a picture of the pair grinning and laughing backstage.

He captioned the picture, “Two things I learned today about the Type of theatre maker I am: When my idol texts that she’s running late. I hold the curtain for her. When my idol texts me during a play I’ve written, I respond.”

Jeremy O. Harris (Getty Images)
Jeremy O. Harris (Getty Images)

Users criticised Rihanna for texting during the performance and being late for the show, as well as O.Harris for not calling her out for her behaviour.

O. Harris was told by one user, “why you aren’t condemning [Rihanna’s] behaviour” and said that it was “really rude to the rest of your audience and your colleagues”.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

The user also referenced Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda’s criticism of Madonna for similar behaviour, pointing to it as an example.

O. Harris said in response, “I respect Lin’s position, I just don’t share it. I’m not interested in policing anyone’s relationship to watching a play ESPECIALLY someone who isn’t a part of the regular theatre-going crowd.”

He also added that he was “famously ambivalent [about] phone use in the theatre”, continuing, “For me there are so many more disrespectful things that I have to endure in a theatre than light from a phone so I’ve come to terms with it.”

He also said in another tweet, "IDK. There's no right or wrong way to watch the theatre... the form is dying so I'd rather [people] just be there than not tbqh."

While any celebrity attending their production is a major moment for a theatre professional, O.Harris’ relationship with Rihanna is more significant than most.

The play, which juxtaposes modern day interracial relationships against a plantation in Virginia, actually sees the singer named in the script - with one of its celestial characters titled after her. Rihanna’s song Work also features in the production.

In an attempt to “dead this weird discourse that has popped up”, O.Harris explained, “The patron saint of the play I wrote is literally a pop star, fashion icon, and Demi-goddess named Rihanna. Her words are all over it. She’s a 9th character in the play.”

“When Dionysus is coming you hold the curtain,” he continued.