Is Rihanna a Us Citizen? Everything to Know About Her Nationality and Voting Rights
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
While Rihanna remains exclusively Barbadian, the rest of her immediate household navigates a different legal reality. Her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky (born Rakim Athelaston Mayers), is a native-born U.S. citizen from New York City's Harlem neighborhood. Mayers holds direct U.S. voting rights.
Their two young sons, RZA Athelston Mayers (born May 2022) and Riot Rose Mayers (born August 2023), were both born in Los Angeles, California. Under the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship clause, both boys gained U.S. citizenship at birth and hold U.S. passports. This household dynamic was the premise of Rihanna's election post. Her sons are American citizens who will one day cast ballots in races where their mother has no vote.
The children also qualify for Barbadian citizenship by descent under Section 5 of the Barbados Constitution, giving them dual citizenship rights that their mother does not share.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
