J.R. Smith uses picture of Rihanna to taunt Miami Heat bandwagon fans
Since LeBron James’ departure back to Cleveland, it’s been open season on Miami Heat fans. To many, there are no “real” Heat fans, instead, only those who flee’d to the roster upon LeBron James’ arrival in the summer of 2010.
And New York Knicks enigmatic shooting guard J.R. Smith decided to enter the fun on Instagram, using a photo of pop singer Rihanna to make a mockery of bandwagon Heat fans.
The argument over Miami Heat fans and their validity is stupid seeing as it’s idiotic to argue over how someone becomes a fan or the general fan base. It’s no secret that megastars draw fan bases. If, in his prime, Kobe Bryant had been traded to the Chicago Bulls as he requested, the Los Angeles Lakers fan base would have depleted while the Bulls increase.
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But this Instagram photo is funnier due to the backstory behind J.R. Smith and Rihanna.
According to several reports, Smith and Rihanna once dated, but once their relationship ended it bleed into the public eye. As J.R. Smith struggled in the 2013 NBA playoffs, fans took to blaming Rihanna for his struggles after seeing photos of the two in the club together, causing Rihanna to lash out in her Instagram comments at the then-Sixth Man of the Year.
“f–k you and your wack ass team!!,” Rihanna wrote. “Nobody don’t want that desert thirsty n—-a!!He fuckin up cus his ass be hungover from clubbing every night during playoffs!! So your issue ain’t with rasshole me.”
Now many seem to label Rihanna as a bandwagon fan as she’s shown appreciation and rooted for several different NBA franchises this past season including the Knicks, Lakers, Clippers, Nets, and Heat–and based on the IG post, Smith seems to agree with the notion.
As entertaining a NBA sub-storyline there is, the “beef” between the two continues.