Natalie Portman recently spilled the tea on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon about how Rihanna’s heartfelt compliment helped her power through her divorce earlier this year, after she encountered the “Work” singer for the first time at Paris Fashion Week.
Natalie Portman has officially broken her silence on her split from Benjamin Milliepied earlier this year
This week, the “Black Swan” actress was featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she got candid about a heartwarming interaction she had with Rihanna that helped her get through her divorce.
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Portman and Milliepied tied the knot in 2012
The pair share two children, a 12-year-old son, Aleph, and 7-year-old daughter, Amalia. However, sadly, there seemed to be trouble in paradise. In 2023 multiple outlets reported that Milliepied had engaged in an affair.
Speaking with Vanity Fair in February, Portman briefly addressed the infidelity rumors
“It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it,” she said. One month later, their divorce was confirmed and Portman made the decision to move to Paris and start her new life. Little did she know, her path was about to cross Rihanna’s in the best way possible at Paris Fashion Week.
Portman described meeting the singer as an “amazing experience,” right when she needed it most and highly recommended it to all women going through a divorce
“I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she is a bad b—-… It was exactly what I needed,” Portman quipped.
Not only did Portman have the cutest interaction of all time with Rihanna, but it was also captured on video
Fallon proceeded to play the clip, showing the actress and Rihanna hugging like old friends. “I am a f—ing fan,” Rihanna gushed, and Natalie’s response? “Are you kidding me?!”
But wait, there’s more! Rihanna went on: “You are one of the hottest b—–s in Hollywood, ever.”
The Fenty Beauty founder confessed that she doesn’t usually fan-girl over anyone, but Portman was most definitely the exception. “Excuse me?!,” Portman said, in complete disbelief.
“You do the most innocent look and I’m like, agh!,” Rihanna said. “Yo, I don’t get excited about anybody but I f—ing love you.”
Back to the present day, Portman reflected on meeting Rihanna the same way many of us would in her shoes. She described it as life-changing.
Rihanna’s validation helped Portman regain her confidence during a vulnerable time
“It was a formative moment in my life,” she told Fallon.
Fans met the video with messages praising the two powerful women for supporting each other.
One YouTube user commented, “I am so glad that Rihanna was able to be a light in the darkness for Natalie Portman. Two lovely women lifting each other up is always so nice to see!”
“Having Rihanna say that she is a fan of you, is insane,” another fan shared, while someone else added, “RiRi made Natalie feel seen at a time when Natalie was almost forgetting who she was,” alongside a heart emoji.
Watch the full video here.
