Since 2010 Rihanna has been under investigation by the US' Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over allegations of tax fraud relating to her 2009 "Only Girl in the World" tour. In response Rihanna sued her accountants at the time - Berdon LLP - arguing that they were responsible for any and all malfeasance. The pressure created by this legal action and the IRS investigation has been one of the main driving forces behind Rihanna's almost suicidal behaviour in recent years.
On Maundy Thursday (17/4/14) Rihanna sensationally withdrew this legal action opting for an out of Court settlement with Berdon LPP just a month before the Court was expected to hand down it's judgement which would likely have found in Rihanna's favour. The financial details of the settlement are still being kept as a closely guarded secret but that has never been the issue in the case. By settling out of Court Rihanna has agreed to share liability for any malfeasance with Berdon LLP. Although the IRS or a Court would be unable to directly infer guilt from this decision the fact that Rihanna has dropped the case just weeks before having to give evidence certainly does not cast Rihanna in a positive light. As such the US government through the IRS seem to own Rihanna for life now and not even I can think of a way for her to refuse their every whim.
On a related note Maundy Thursday was also a very bad day for the Eurotunnel rail link between the UK and France. First there was a suicide on the French side of the tunnel and then a train broke down in the tunnel. This forced the train operator Eurostar to cancel most of their services and issue refunds and compensation payments to ticket holders. As Eurostar has long been used as a metaphor for discussions about Rihanna between the UK and France this sounds like a suggestion of what organisers of the Wireless festival could do after it is announced that Drake will be prevented from performing. However being a festival rather then a concert the organisers of Wireless aren't even obligated to do that.
Perhaps more worryingly in the early hours of Friday (18/4/14) the London flagship store of Rihanna's favourite brand Chanel was targeted by a smash and grab robbery in which a significant amount of merchandise was stolen and the store itself was badly damaged. This seems like a UK response to France's Eurostar suggestion. It is very bad news for Rihanna though because it contributes to a growing feeling that wherever Rihanna goes trouble quickly follows.
So in summary I hope that Rihanna is very happy with Drake because it looks like the wind has changed so she's stuck with him now.
The only possible glimmer of hope is that the cancellation of the remainder of Miley Cyrus' US tour demonstrates a growing acceptance by the US that they are going to have to make major concessions and most likely abandon the entire operation.
14:00 on 19/4/14 (UK date).
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