Rihanna Steps Out After Tense Met Gala Moment

Rihanna was spotted for the first time since her tense exchange with her partner  on the way back from the Met Gala on Monday night.

The couple were seen locked in a tense moment while sat in a sprinter van after attending the prestigious gala together at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

While it looked like Rihanna, 38, and A$AP Rocky, 37, were having a great time at the event, things appeared to take a turn later in the evening.

They were seen returning to their suite at the Carlyle Hotel in the van and 'neither of them seemed happy' when they got out, according to onlookers.

Rihanna was seen leaving the same hotel in the early hours of Wednesday morning without her partner in her first sighting since their strained night.

The mother of three opted for a dressed down look, sporting a black sweatsuit with loafers and a New York Yankees baseball cap with oversized shades.

She added touches of glam with a sparkling diamond necklace and make-up.

Rihanna, who skipped all of the Met Gala parties, left the hotel carrying a large bag under her arm, as well as a portable speaker. 

On Monday night, the power couple were seen having a tense-looking debrief.

Video captured by onlookers captured the heavy moment, and shows the couple sitting inside a sprinter van with some distance between them.

The topic of discussion remains a mystery, however based on their strained expressions, it couldn't have been anything particularly light. 

 did appear to crack a brief smile and chuckle during the chat, however it did not last.

Fans rushed to defend the couple though with one quipping: 'You try to be a mom of 3, being with your partner for more than 5 years without arguing at least one day. That’s called adulting!'

It was all a far cry from the picture the couple were emitting earlier in the evening. 

On the staircase of The Met, the couple exuded relationship goals as they posed up a storm on the red carpet before goofing around with Heidi Klum inside the swanky party.  

Rihanna even appeared to have her partner in stitches as she struck a cheeky pose with Klum. 

Furthermore, an eyewitness who saw the couple periodically throughout the evening told TMZ the pair appeared to be having a great time and were completely fine. 

The witness added they did not observe any issues between the couple. 

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the couple but have not yet heard back.  

A source has since told TMZ the couple were merely wiped-out following a nonstop day of Met Gala celebrations, with the video reflecting that. TMZ further reported the couple aren't experiencing any issues.

Netizens also speculated the tense-looking conversation may have been about a chat A$AP was having with a female  guest as Rihanna conducted a brief interview.

The video showed Rihanna speaking with the cameraman as her partner chatted with the woman in the background. 

The moment was caught on film but TMZ sources said nothing was going on between the woman and A$AP, with the videographer even stepping in to shut down the chatter and insist everyone already knew each other. 

The woman was identified by TMZ as Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert, an Italian fashion designer and stylist who attended the bash with singer EJAE.

The video showed the rapper talking to Engelbert and several others before turning his attention to the Italian stylist. They exchanged friendly kisses on the cheek as they parted ways before A$AP rejoined his partner.

'Oh so this is why they were arguing -' @YSLONIKA, who posted the video to X, remarked.

'He's too friendly,' another wrote. 'He needs to slow down,' one said, along with a screengrab of the kiss.

However, TMZ reports the video failed to capture the whole interaction, and that Engelbert is someone who has known Rihanna for years and 'has a lot of respect' for her.

Insiders stressed to TMZ there was absolutely no romantic energy between A$AP and Engelbert. 

The outlet reports the whole interaction began with Engelbert first speaking with Rihanna, sharing a laugh with her, before she spoke with A$AP and joked around with him about his necklace.

Additionally, Backstage Live Event, the videographer who captured the clip, clarified the couple are 'very much in love' and that Rihanna was 'not unhappy.'

'@backstageliveent was talking with the couple on the red carpet at the #metgala she was not unhappy and everyone in that circle know each other, so please stop [stop sign emoji] the couple is very much in love,' they posted to their Instagram comments.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the couple for comment about the video and TMZ report.  

Rihanna and A$AP have been together for six years and share three children together. 

The newest addition to their family, daughter Rocki Irish Mayers, was born in mid-September.  

She joins big brothers RZA, born in 2022, and Riot Rose, who arrived in 2023.