Matt Barnes Says He’s ‘Too Grown To Lie’ About Dating Rihanna

On Sunday, Rihanna lacked no subtlety in confirming her non-relationship with the Memphis Grizzlies’ Matt Barnes. A few follow-ups resurrect the story. The dispute should have ended when Rihanna immediately denied having even met Barnes, who implied they were at least “friends” who were “just past the crush stage.” Now Barnes’ former L.A. Clippers teammate, Glen Davis, backs up his buddy.

Davis sat down with ESPN’s His & Hers to confirm that Barnes truly knows Rihanna. Speaking to Jemele Hill and Michael Smith, Davis insisted, “He REALLY knows her.” The emphasis in those words is all too obvious, but hey. Maybe Barnes met Rihanna at a party, and she doesn’t even remember the guy.

Meanwhile, Barnes is keeping the dream alive. On The Jim Rome Show, Barnes appears to be confused after Rihanna fired back:

“You live and you learn. When you’re in a situation like this and, you know, you just learn. You just got to keep stuff to yourself obviously. But the way I’m putting it right now, I’m too grown to lie, you know what I mean. It is what it is, I’m going to let this blow by like everything else blows by.”

Barnes says he’s “in a situation,” which makes no sense. If he and Rihanna were dating, he should realize that — whatever the situation was — it’s done. If he’s making up nonsense, he should realize there is no situation. Did Barnes feel slighted by Rihanna’s hashtag game?

“I just smiled. I just smiled, that’s it. What can you do? At the end of the day we’re all grown-ups. Like I said I’m too grown to be lying about stuff but life is life … My upbringing just doesn’t allow me to have that kind of stuff in it. Life, sports whatever it is I’m just about the truth. I’m always going to be me, even if you know sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble. I speak on things I feel passionately about. So love me or hate me I’m going to be me regardless.”

Uh-oh. He used the word “passionately,” which either means he’s sending secret signals to Rih in a mutual game, or he’s deluded. Only two people really know the truth of this situation, and their versions don’t jibe at all. What’s truly tragic is how Barnes appears to have soured Rihanna’s taste for Instagram. Ever since she dropped her message to Barnes, Rih hasn’t posted a thing. This is far from her usual routine of posting several photos per day. So, thanks for that, Barnes.

(via TMZ & The Jim Rome Show)

×