Jenna Ortega has captured hearts everywhere with her captivating performances, from the quirky Wednesday Addams in Wednesday to her roles in the Scream series. Now, she’s set to charm audiences once again in the upcoming Beetlejuice 2. But it’s not just her acting skills that are making headlines; it’s her impeccable pronunciation of music icon Rihanna’s name.
At the 2023 Golden Globes, while presenting the award for Best Song in a Motion Picture, Jenna mentioned Rihanna in a way that caught everyone’s attention. Rihanna, who has been relatively quiet on the music front lately, was nominated for her song “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. As Jenna stated, “I’m gonna get to original song in a minute; we got artists like Taylor Swift and Rihanna competing for that award,” the audience buzzed with excitement.
However, what really sparked interest was how Jenna pronounced Rihanna’s name. A TikTok user, @sugeneshin_, pointed out that Jenna’s pronunciation was different from the common one most people use. This revelation quickly went viral, prompting many to reflect on their own pronunciation of the name.
So, how do we know Jenna got it right? Fenty Beauty, Rihanna’s makeup brand, chimed in on the TikTok post, affirming Jenna’s pronunciation with the comment, “Miss Wednesday understood the assignment.” To further confirm the correct pronunciation, Rihanna herself stated in an interview with Showbiz Tonight that “Ree-an-nah” is indeed how her name should be pronounced.
The TikTok revelation left many viewers stunned, realizing they had been mispronouncing Rihanna’s name all along. The comments section was filled with reactions ranging from embarrassment to surprise. One user exclaimed, “I’ve been pronouncing it wrong my whole life?!?!” Another remarked, “Dang…so I’ve been saying her name wrong my whole life?!! I feel embarrassed now. I had NO idea that was how you correctly pronounce her name!”
Some users even predicted that Jenna’s pronunciation would become the new standard, with one commenting, “Now everyone is gonna pronounce Rihanna’s name the way she said it after seeing this video.” Interestingly, a few individuals noted that pronunciation can vary globally, with some Brits claiming they had been saying it correctly all along, similar to Jenna.
Adding an interesting tidbit to the conversation, some fans pointed out that Rihanna’s first name is actually Robyn, a fun fact that not everyone may know.
As Jenna Ortega continues to shine in her career, her recent moment at the Golden Globes has not only showcased her talent but also sparked a delightful conversation about the nuances of name pronunciation, reminding us all that even the simplest names can carry complexities we might not expect.