Rihanna & A$AP Rocky’s Relationship Timeline Includes Pregnancy Reveals & Viral Moments

First comes friendship, then comes love, then comes the baby carriage. In January 2022, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky announced they were expecting their first child together, later welcoming their bundle of joy in May. One year after that pregnancy announcement, Riri and Rocky are stronger — and still just as stylish — as ever, as evidenced by their 2023 Golden Globes date on Jan. 10. In fact, their family is about to get even bigger as well, as Rihanna subtly announced that she was expecting their second child during her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance on Feb. 12.

Rihanna’s second pregnancy announcement marks another milestone in her relationship with the rapper, who she has now been dating for nearly three years, even though Rocky only confirmed their relationship in May 2021. However, their connection actually goes back more than a decade, having worked together multiple times over the years before getting romantic.

Most recently, in May 2023, Rocky once again proved his love and devotion, protecting his pregnant girlfriend from rowdy clubgoers in Tokyo by scolding them on a microphone.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s relationship timeline shows that their connection goes way back, proving friendship is the true foundation of their romance.

2012: Collaborations

Rihanna and Rocky’s friendship dates back almost a decade, but back then, they kept things strictly business. In September, he was featured on a remix of Rihanna’s 2012 hit “Cockiness (Love It)” and even performed the track with her at that year’s MTV Video Music Awards.

2013: Touring Together

A$AP served as the opening act on the U.S. dates of Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour in 2013, setting the foundation for their romantic cross-country road trip seven years later. Later that year, Rihanna returned the favor and appeared in his “Fashion Killa” music video, a very fitting moment considering how influential they both are in the fashion world. You can just feel the chemistry oozing on-camera.

2018-2019: Fashion Events

While the pair didn’t truly reunite professionally or personally since touring together, they still kept things friendly at public events. In 2018, Rihanna and Rocky sat together at Virgil Abloh’s debut Louis Vuitton menswear show — and looked tres chic, as per usual. The next year, they posed together on the red carpet at the British Fashion Awards. They were truly building a reputation as fashion’s hottest couple even before they became a couple.

2020: Dating Rumors Heat Up

Rumors spread that Rihanna was dating A$AP Rocky back in February 2020, when they were seen out in New York City together. However, E! was quick to deny the reports. “She wants to be single and isn't going to jump into something,” a source told the outlet. “She’s hanging out with A$AP Rocky, but she is not dating him. They have a long history and she’s just having fun.” While they may not have been official then, it didn’t take long for that to happen. PEOPLE confirmed that the pair was in fact dating in November after they were spotted having dinner in New York yet again.

Before their relationship was officially confirmed, A$AP reunited with Rihanna professionally in July 2020, when she cast him in her Fenty Skin campaign. In a video with GQ to promote the line, Rocky opened up about working with Riri, saying the best and hardest part was trying to stay professional around her and not goof off. “This sh*t is comedy,” he said. “The hardest part is not having too much fun. You just forget that it's still work at the end of the day.” Get you someone who can both work hard and play hard.

2021: A$AP Confirmed They’re Dating

In May 2021, Rocky told GQ finally confirmed he was dating Rihanna, calling her “the love of my life” and “my lady.” During the interview, the “Fashion Killa” singer made it clear that he wants to go the distance with the pop icon (and who wouldn’t? It’s Rihanna!). And as soon as writer Samuel Hine brought up Rihanna’s name to the 32-year-old entertainer, A$AP started “beaming like a teenager whose crush just accepted his prom invite.”

The interview only got more revealing from there, with A$AP explaining that his relationship with Rihanna “amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones.” He also said that there’s something special about this relationship that he hasn’t experienced in the past. “I think when you know, you know,” he said. “She’s the One.”

The rapper went on to share details about a trip they went on last summer. Because neither of them could go on tour because of the state of the world, Rih and Rocky rented a tour bus and drove across the U.S., stopping in Texas, Tennessee, and some national parks. “I met myself,” he said about the trip. “Being able to drive and do a tour without feeling like it was an occupation or an obligated job agreement, I feel like that experience is like none other.”

January 2022: Rihanna Is Pregnant

On Jan. 31, Rihanna debuted her baby bump, adorned with colorful jewels and a gold cross, while walking with the rapper in New York’s Harlem neighborhood, where he grew up, on a dreamy snow day. This marks the first child for both the singer and her boyfriend. It’s not known how far along Rihanna is in her pregnancy or when her bundle of joy is expected to arrive.

February 2022: Riri & Rocky Take Fashion Week

At the end of February, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky flew to Europe and completely stole fashion week across two cities. The couple made a surprise appearance at Gucci’s fall/winter 2022 show in Milan on Feb. 25, and completely stole the show, with Rihanna donning a latex crop-top, lavender fur coat, and metal headdress as her choice of maternity wear.

Just a couple of days later, they flew to Paris for Off-White’s fall/winter 2022 show on Feb. 28, which marked the late Virgil Abloh’s final collection for the brand. Riri confirmed her status as the most stylish pregnant woman alive at the show, wearing a leather minidress and a shearling coat. The next day, Rihanna showed up to Dior’s runway show in a black see-through ensemble and even addressed a fan who yelled that she was late as the singer was entering. “No sh*t,” she hilariously responded.

Throughout their Fashion Week outings, A$AP looked like a supportive partner every step of the way, always standing by her side. The only person who could ever maybe top Rihanna’s taste in fashion would be their upcoming bundle of joy.

May 2022: Rihanna Gives Birth

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky became parents on May 13, when they reportedly welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in Los Angeles. The couple has not publicly confirmed their new addition, and the newborn’s name has yet to be revealed.

Before their baby’s reported birth, A$AP unveiled his new music video for “D.M.B.” on May 5, co-starring none other than his famous girlfriend. In the video, Rihanna chills on a fire escape with her beau in a neon fur coat and gets in plenty of PDA before the couple pretends to walk down the aisle, sparking marriage and engagement rumors in real life. Riri dons a sheer red veil that Rocky uncovers, like a typical groom, before he flashes a grill that reads “Marry Me,” which she responds to with her own grill that says “I Do.”

Later that month, in an interview with Dazed published on May 30, Rocky gave rare comments on his relationship with Riri, acknowledging just how stylish they are and insisting it comes to them organically. “We happen to look good together naturally,” he said. “You know, it would take a lot of work to have us forcefully match before we leave the house. Sometimes we match to a T, or we just wear the same clothes. If I buy a shirt that she likes, I expect to get it stolen… but then I gotta steal it back.”

The rapper then gushed about his time with Rihanna in her home country of Barbados, revealing that he also has familial ties to the country and calling it “one of the most surreal experiences I’ve encountered in my lifetime,” before opening up about the type of father he wants to be. “I will always remind my children to never lose their imagination, even as adults, no matter what,” he said. “I actually love to watch cartoons – I’ve watched like, Teletubbies, Blue’s Clues, Yo Gabba Gabba, Peppa Pig, and Baby Shark. I hope to raise open-minded children, not people who discriminate. And I’m not trying to describe a saint, but realistically, I just want a cool child with cool parents.”

December 2022: Riri Shares First Look At Her & Rocky’s Son

On Dec. 17, Rihanna surprised fans by sharing the first look at her and Rocky’s son on TikTok, marking her first post on the platform.

In the sweet video, the couple’s son, whose name is still not publicly known, is heard cooing and squealing in a carseat as his mother records him. At one point, he even tries to take the camera for himself. “You tryna get Mommy's phone?” she playfully asks in the background.

January 2023: Golden Globes Date Night

On Jan. 10, Rihanna took a break from Super Bowl rehearsals to attend the 2023 Golden Globes, where she was nominated for Best Original Song for “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Ever the devoted boyfriend, A$AP was by her side in support, but they opted to skip the red carpet and simply enjoy the show. Even after she lost the award to “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, the couple were seen in the audience giggling at shout-outs from stars onstage, especially when host Jerrod Carmichael told her to “take all the time you want” on her long-awaited ninth studio album.

Riri and Rocky were arguably the best-dressed couple at the event, even without walking the red carpet, with the Fenty Beauty owner donning a custom Schiaparelli look and the rapper wearing a coordinating black tux. After the show, the duo made it a date night and went to dinner at Riri’s favorite restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica.

Later that month, in an interview with Apple Music 1, Rocky hyped up Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, admitting that he was even “more excited than everybody else” for his girlfriend’s performance. “This is incredible. I'm so glad that my lady's back making music again and whatnot, and getting back out there,” he said. “The Super Bowl is huge, and her being the creative she is, she going to bring it, man. I’m excited.”

He also gave a peek into his new chapter as a father after welcoming his first child with Rihanna. “I’m a member of our club now, like the dad club. You see a dad, you see me,” he said. “It honestly helps you get home to your family and get home to your baby. And I can’t even explain it, man. You come home to heaven every day. I’m so thankful. God is good, man.” What fans didn’t know during that interview is that he was actually about to become a father of two.

February 2023: Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

Rihanna subtly announced that she’s expecting her second child with A$AP while headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 12, opening her jacket and cradling her baby bump during the opening number. The singer’s representative confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

The couple has yet to comment on the reveal themselves, but Rocky proved to be her number-one fan during her performance. The NFL’s Instagram account shared a video of the rapper filming Rihanna’s “Diamonds” finale from the field and beaming like a proud boyfriend.

May 2023: A$AP Protects Rihanna From Rowdy Clubgoers

On May 1, Rihanna returned to the Met Gala red carpet with Rocky, marking their second Met appearance together. The couple arrived fashionably late, walking the red carpet last. RiRi donned an all-white look designed by Valentino, an egg-shaped hooded floral vest that she later removed to unveil her baby bump, accentuated by a flowing white gown. Rocky showed up in a striking look, a tuxedo jacket and plaid skirt ensemble that the event’s honoree Karl Lagerfeld had worn years prior, but his loving gazes toward Riri proves that he was truly there to support the Gala’s biggest star.

Later that month, A$AP proved that he understood the mission to protect Rihanna at all costs, especially when she’s with child. In a viral video from a nightclub appearance posted across social media, Rocky is seen scolding clubgoers for getting rowdy just a little too close to his pregnant girlfriend. “Act like gentlemen right now, you heard?” he told the crowd, yelling into a microphone. “I got my lady here! Don’t be in this section doing all that. Calm that s–t the f–k down. Y’all act like gentlemen when y’all are in her presence.”

While it’s not known when the incident occurred, fans have traced it back to an appearance in Tokyo, Japan, where the rapper reportedly held a preview event for his upcoming new album. The couple had been spotted in the city the weekend prior, and they are wearing the same outfits in the viral video.