Love her or hate her, you can’t say she plays it safe, Rihanna Just Put Elon Musk’s Transgender Kid.
So Rihanna did it again.
The woman knows how to make headlines. But this time? It’s not about a new album (still waiting, by the way). It’s about her latest lingerie campaign.
She featured Elon Musk’s transgender child as one of the models.
Yeah. You read that right.
Let’s Talk About What Actually Happened
Rihanna’s lingerie brand has always been about one thing: inclusivity. Not the fake kind where you put one slightly curvy model in the lineup and call it a day. The real kind.
She’s had models of every size, color, background, and identity. That’s been her thing for years.
So featuring Musk’s transgender kid? Honestly, it fits her brand perfectly.
The campaign went viral instantly. Like, within hours. Photos everywhere. Debates everywhere. People either cheering or clutching their pearls.
Who Is This Kid, Anyway?
Elon Musk’s transgender child has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. That’s been a conscious choice. They changed their name. Cut ties publicly with Musk. Said some pretty harsh things about him, actually.
So for them to show up in a Rihanna lingerie campaign? That’s a big deal. It’s not just about fashion. It’s about visibility. About saying “I’m here, I exist, and I’m not hiding.”
Love that or hate it, you can’t ignore the guts it takes.
Why People Are Cheering
Here’s what supporters are saying.
Rihanna isn’t just selling bras and panties. She’s making a statement. She’s saying that transgender people belong everywhere — including in lingerie ads. Including on your feed. Including in the conversation.
For a lot of people, that matters. Like, really matters.
When you grow up never seeing anyone who looks like you or lives like you in media, you start to think something’s wrong with you. Representation isn’t just “woke” nonsense. It’s actually lifeline stuff for some kids.
So yeah. People are emotional about this. In a good way.
Why People Are Mad
And then there’s the other side.
Some folks think Rihanna is just doing this for attention. Or to be controversial. Or to sell more products. (I mean, she is a businesswoman. That’s literally her job.)
Others have a bigger problem: they don’t think a lingerie campaign is the place for a transgender person. Or they don’t think kids of famous people should be used like this. Or they just don’t agree with transgender visibility at all.
Let’s be honest — a lot of the outrage is just straight-up transphobia dressed up as concern. But not all of it. Some people genuinely think Rihanna crossed a line.
Here’s What I Think (Since You Asked)
Look. Rihanna knows exactly what she’s doing.
She’s not naive. She’s not accidentally causing controversy. She’s been in the game too long for that.
She featured Musk’s kid because she wanted to start a conversation. And guess what? It worked. Everyone’s talking.
Is it partly a marketing move? Of course it is. She’s selling lingerie. But does that make the message less real? I don’t think so. You can make money AND stand for something. Those aren’t mutually Exclusive.
And honestly? A transgender person existing in public shouldn’t be controversial. The fact that it IS controversial says more about us than it does about Rihanna.
The Fashion Industry Is Changing — Slowly
For decades, lingerie ads were a very specific thing. Tall. Thin. White. Cisgender. Airbrushed to oblivion.
That’s been dying for a while now. Rihanna’s brand helped kill it.
Campaigns like this push the industry forward. Whether you like this specific ad or not, the trend is clear: diversity sells. Authenticity sells. People are tired of seeing the same fake image over and over.
So other brands are watching. And some of them will follow. That’s how change happens — not because people suddenly become good, but because they see what works.
What About Elon Musk?
Interesting question.
Musk has had a complicated relationship with his transgender child. Publicly, he’s said some things that upset people. Privately, who knows?
His kid has been pretty clear about not wanting much to do with him. So this campaign isn’t about Elon. It’s about them. And that’s probably how they want it.
I doubt Musk loves seeing his family drama play out in a lingerie ad. But he’s also not exactly shy about courting controversy himself. So. You know. Irony.
Bottom Line
Rihanna did something bold. Again. She featured Elon Musk’s transgender child in a lingerie campaign. People are cheering. People are furious. The internet is doing what the internet does.
Is it a genuine step forward for transgender representation? I think so.
Is it also a smart business move? Absolutely.
Those two things can be true at the same time.
Love the campaign or hate it, you can’t deny one thing: Rihanna is still the queen of making us talk. And honestly? We need to talk about this stuff. Whether it’s comfortable or not.