A viral video of Rihanna partying at Coachella set social media off in April 2015. Some viewers claimed the singer was using cocaine, and Rihanna pushed back hard. She denied it in comments online, saying the item in the video was a joint mixed with tobacco.
One Instagram user who reposted the clip with a caption making the cocaine claim is now speaking out. Eric, a man from Philadelphia, told RhymeJunkie he did not film the video. “I was not the first person to release the Rihanna video. Her friends who filmed her were the first,” he said, adding that he used a repost app to share it.
After Rihanna commented on his page, Eric says online backlash followed. He told RhymeJunkie that some fans and blogs made false accusations about him, and that he plans to file a lawsuit. He also says he has received threats and has been wrongly labeled online. “For the record, I am not a sex offender, I have never abused or violated anyone sexually in any way,” he said. Those online claims about him have not been verified, and Eric denies them.
Eric stands by his belief about the video. “I believe she was doing cocaine because she was playing with something on the table that resembled a rolled up dollar bill,” he said. He also said he is a fan of Rihanna’s music and called her an icon. Rihanna has publicly denied his claim.
Whatever happens next, this story is a reminder of how fast a social media post can spiral for everyone involved. We will see if any legal action is actually filed.
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