Update - Oct. 24, 6:59 a.m., ET
Details are coming out that Rihanna changing the lyrics to her song was not correct. All the previous articles about her changing the lyrics are sourced to the original Haaretz piece.
Haaretz posted the following:
The original headline for this article has been changed (from "All Rihanna sees 'is Palestine,' but Israelis didn't seem to care") and part of a sentence was removed from the story ("in "Pour it Up" instead of "All I see is signs / All I see is dollar signs," she subbed in "All I see is Palestine.") Upon reviewing video footage of the show posted after publication, it is clear that the change in lyrics attributed to Rihanna was mistaken. The footage can be found here.
Rihanna performed in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday night in support of her Diamonds World Tour.
My picture of Rihanna from her concert in Tel Aviv, Israel (yesterday) #4 (One of my favourites!) #DiamondsWorldTour
✨Vered✨
@West_Girl
My picture of Rihanna from her concert in Tel Aviv, Israel (yesterday) #4 (One of my favourites!) #DiamondsWorldTour
It was reported that the singer was an hour late to take the stage at Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park.
View this video on YouTube
But the real standout moment happened when she changed some of the lyrics to her song "Pour It Up."
Rihanna changed the words of her song while performing in tel aviv... "All I see is dollar signs" #israel #palestine
*Nadiaaa*
@Nadiagotzskillz
Rihanna changed the words of her song while performing in tel aviv... "All I see is dollar signs" #israel #palestine
Amy Klein from Haaretz wrote up the concert, and took more of an issue with the fact that Rihanna never said the word "Israel" while on stage.
She apologized for keeping the audience waiting – but her fans didn't seem to mind.
Nor did they care when in "Pour it Up" instead of "All I see is signs / All I see is dollar signs," she subbed in "All I see is Palestine," or the fact that she just kept inserting calls of "Tel Aviv!" in every song – never once saying the word Israel.
The lyrical change caused mixed reactions among Rihanna fans.
I think having Rihanna change her Pour it Up lyrics in support of Palestine is a liability, not a win. Hot mess.
Reem.
@itssilverfox
I think having Rihanna change her Pour it Up lyrics in support of Palestine is a liability, not a win. Hot mess.
I would have rather @rihanna boycotted her show in Tel Aviv, but I guess I'll take saying "#Palestine"....#BDS #FreePalestine
Rana Haddad
@renoona
I would have rather @rihanna boycotted her show in Tel Aviv, but I guess I'll take saying "#Palestine"....#BDS #FreePalestine
@rihanna @sallyidwedar fuck palestine
aurelie haccoun
@AurelieHaccoun
@rihanna @sallyidwedar fuck palestine
But perhaps most confusingly, Rihanna tagged all of her Instagram photos taken while in Tel Aviv with the #Israel hashtag.
So many are calling it a bit of a mixed message.
To make matters more confusing, Lahav Harkov, a reporter for The Jerusalem Post, claims that the entire incident didn't happen.
@MiriamElder I was there and I didn't hear her say it. Only Haaretz reported it. I really don't think it's true.
Lahav Harkov
@LahavHarkov
@MiriamElder I was there and I didn't hear her say it. Only Haaretz reported it. I really don't think it's true.