Rihanna responds to EJ Johnson after Dior show delay criticism
Pop star Rihanna responded with a blunt single-word comment after television personality EJ Johnson criticized the singer for arriving an hour late to the Dior fashion show during Paris Fashion Week, pagesix.com reported. The late arrival pushed back the start time of the luxury designer’s presentation and sparked public remarks from attendees.
The Paris Fashion Week Disruption
The friction began when Johnson, a 34-year-old television personality who uses they/them pronouns, documented their preparation and attendance for the Dior showcase on Instagram. In a video clip shared after the event, Johnson told followers that the runway presentation experienced a significant delay. “It did start an hour late because Rihanna was late and you know … we didn’t care to wait for her but the show was beautiful nonetheless,” Johnson said in the recording.
Days after the discourse made headlines online, a separate video surfaced showing Johnson being blocked by security from entering their Paris hotel amid a large crowd of photographers. In the comments section of that subsequent video, Rihanna posted a direct, two-letter response: “Damn.”
Prior Public Criticisms and Red Carpet Commentary
The Paris Fashion Week exchange follows a history of public critiques directed at the Fenty Beauty founder by Johnson. Following the Met Gala in May 2026, Johnson posted videos evaluating celebrity fashion choices and claimed that several major figures, including Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Kim Kardashian, fell short with their event attire.
Despite those criticisms, Johnson occasionally contrasted recent looks with past fashion milestones, referencing Rihanna’s yellow Guo Pei cape from the 2015 Met Gala as a standout moment. In another viral video clip addressing recent designer purchases, Johnson displayed a Bottega calf-skin cape, claiming it was the identical piece Rihanna wore after a runway presentation, though adding that they were the only person to purchase that specific item off the runway.
Unresolved Public Tension Between the Public Figures
Representatives for both Rihanna and Johnson did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the exchange. While the online discourse continues to circulate across social media platforms through various fan and paparazzi clips, neither public figure has issued a formal statement beyond the initial video commentary and the singer’s brief social media response.