Rihanna decided to start 2022 with a major bang when, in January, she showed off her baby bump for the first time in public. Though she and A$AP Rocky have been together for well over a year, this news still came as a surprise to so many fans — but the singer-turned-fashion designer has gotten an overwhelming show of support for her big news.
While we try to wrap our heads around RiRi becoming a first-time mom, it's a good time to look back at the celebrity couple known as Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. They were friends for years before they took their relationship to the next level, and now they're about to jump headfirst into parenthood together. This is so exciting!
But where did it all begin? As it turns out, their road to romance started more than a decade ago, meaning that this announcement was a long time coming. Here's a timeline of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's relationship, from their first musical collaboration to their epic pregnancy announcement.
2012: Their First Collaboration
Though Rihanna and A$AP Rocky would go on to collaborate on everything from concert tours to skin care, their first melding of the minds took place in 2012, when they created a track together. The song was called "Cockiness," and they'd later take the stage at the MTV VMAs to perform together.
May 2015: A$AP Rocky Denies Relationship Rumors
During a 2015 radio interview, A$AP Rocky denied that anything was going on between him and Rihanna, despite rumors that something romantic might have been happening behind the scenes.
"That's not what I'm looking forward to," he said. "I'm looking forward to the friendship that I already have with all these females."
It might have been true then, but as we know now, his answer would have to change eventually.
2018 & 2019: Hanging Out as Friends
As the years went on, the two were seen together more and more often, though they continued to do so as friends. This included appearances at events such as Paris Fashion Week, where this intimate photo was taken. So sweet!
January 2020: Rihanna Is a Single Woman
In the beginning of 2020, room was officially made for Rihanna to fall in love with someone new. In January, news broke that she and then-boyfriend Hassan Jameel had broken up after almost three years of dating.
"Their lives were too different and it was hard to maintain a relationship," a source told People at the time.
July 2020: A$SAP Rocky Appears in a Fenty Campaign
Rumors about a relationship between A$AP Rocky and Rihanna heated up again in the summer of 2020, in part because he joined Rihanna for her Fenty Skin campaign. They even posed for a photo together for Fenty Skin's Instagram, which certainly raised eyebrows.
Summer of 2020: They Reportedly Start Dating
According to what a source told Us Weekly, A$AP Rocky had been into Rihanna "for years," though it wasn't until sometime in the summer of 2020 that they finally became an item.
"Things changed over the summer and they finally hooked up," the source said. "They've been together ever since."
August 2020: They Interview Each Other
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky interviewed each other for a double feature across GQ and Vogue, which resulted in a seriously adorable chat where he asked her 15 questions over a video call. At that point, their relationship wasn't confirmed, but it definitely seemed like something was going on.
November 2020: The First Reports of a Relationship
The earliest stories about a romance between Rihanna and A$AP Rocky surfaced in November 2020, when Page Six reported that the two were spotted on a night out with friends. Less than a month later, a source confirmed the reports with People.
"They've been inseparable the past few weeks," the insider said. "It's a new relationship, but they both seem very into it."
December 2020: Christmas With the Family
The following month, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were spotted spending Christmas together in Rihanna's home of Barbados. They celebrated with her family, which was a sign that this relationship was the real deal — even if neither of them had publicly shared anything about it yet.
May 2021: A$AP Rocky Finally Confirms Their Relationship
In May, A$AP Rocky called Rihanna the love of his life in an interview with GQ, speaking openly about her for the first time.
"So much better when you got the One," he told the magazine. "She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones. I think when you know, you know. She's the One."
June 2021: Rihanna Covers Her Tattoo
After a long-standing friendship, Drake and Rihanna have been romantically linked more than once in the past. And though they once had matching shark tattoos, in June 2021, fans noticed that Rihanna had that tattoo covered up, sparking speculation that things with A$AP Rocky were more serious than they'd let on.
July 2021: Paparazzi Photos Surface
Further cementing their relationship status, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were seen walking while holding hands in Miami in July 2021 — so cute! By this point, they seemed to be spending a lot of time together, and it wouldn't be long before they took things to the next level.
August 2021: Things Get Serious
A source described Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's relationship as "solid" when talking to People in August.
"This romance evolved since they were friends first. They already knew and respected each other and it has just grown from there," the insider said. "They loved to laugh and have a blast together before they even dated. All of that makes for a solid romance now."
January 2022: Rihanna Is Pregnant
At the end of January, Rihanna made her big news public when she and A$AP Rocky took a walk around New York City with her bump on full display. At that point, it was official: Rihanna is pregnant! They both look so happy in these photos, so it seems like the future mom and dad are pretty excited.
February 2022: Rihanna Shares a Bump Photo
Not long after the photos of her and A$AP Rocky went public, Rihanna took to her own social media accounts to share them — along with her first bump update shot. She captioned the picture, "How the gang pulled up to Black History month." Love it!
