Rihanna performed four different times at MTV’s VMAs last night. During her third medley, the stage’s backdrop graphics flashed various “Rihanna” logos in distressed, death metal-like font. Additionally, her backup dancers were wearing shirts with the logos on them. You can watch the performance in full below.
Read more: Lady Gaga: “Some people really don’t know the importance of metal”
If you were a metalhead watching the show last night, you probably noticed this as soon as it happened—like these people did:
OK RIHANNA MERCH IS TIGHT
RIHANNA IS A DEATH METAL BAND NOW pic.twitter.com/ujuFfhQZzN
— Ervin (@ErvinOCTW) August 29, 2016
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
When did this pop star/death metal design thing start to become a thing? #rihanna pic.twitter.com/BNRK1PbzGM
— L. Ron Swanson (@CinemaSuicide) 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
@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
Rihanna �� please �� stop �� appropriating �� black �� metal �� culture �� if �� you’ve �� never �� been �� to �� Scandinavia ��
— The Good Evan (@evcon) August 29, 2016
I don’t know why this is so funny to me. however, I really want a shirt with this rihanna-as-metal-band logo pic.twitter.com/oAC0m2aHnl
— shrillary tintin (@theshrillest) August 29, 2016
Rihanna’s death metal logo is sick
— Tropical Johns (@brendanzig_) August 29, 2016
where tf do I get a Rihanna death metal logo shirt
— maddie g (@weirrdhoney) August 29, 2016
Is Rihanna starting a death metal band or what..? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/0jTGQubRFU
— Joe Miele (@Joemielee) August 29, 2016
Will reimburse and pay for shipping for anyone who gets me the Rihanna shirt in the metal font they were wearing just now
— Bobby Mack (@bobby_mack_) August 29, 2016
If I saw this out of context, I would think Rihanna was the name of a sick death metal band.#VMAs pic.twitter.com/6XxNO1Kiga
— Jeff Michael (@omg_rite) August 29, 2016
is @rihanna trying to start a death metal band?? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/5vHW2lcWnn
— Tony Santos (@tsantos1121) August 29, 2016