“It was a formative moment in my life”: Rihanna’s Powerful Four Words Helped Ease Natalie Portman’s Pain After a Difficult Divorce From Benjamin Millepied

It is always worth watching when two of the biggest personalities from the entertainment industry and pop culture come together. That’s exactly what went down when Rihanna and Natalie Portman crossed paths during Paris Fashion Week. 

The Oscar-winning actress has been going through a tough time lately amid her divorce from Benjamin Millepied. But Rihanna had some words that lifted Portman’s spirits in a big way.

Rihanna’s Four Words of Empowerment for Natalie Portman

It turns out that sometimes all it takes is a few well-chosen words from the right person to turn someone’s whole day around. And in the case of Portman, it was Rihanna.

Natalie Portman was at a fashion show in Paris, probably feeling a bit down because of personal stuff. Then, out of nowhere, Rihanna comes up to her and drops a compliment. That’s exactly what happened back in January 2024 at Paris Fashion Week.

Rihanna walked right up to Portman outside of the Dior Haute Couture show, and Portman, being a die-hard fan of the singer, was fangirling over her. However, she never imagined that the unexpected response from Rihanna would be her source of motivation later. In the clip, Rihanna is seen saying,

You’re one of the hottest b-tches in Hollywood forever…You do the most innocent look, and I’m like UGH!”

Portman was so surprised, she said she was going to faint. After a few months, going through her divorce struggles, Portman talked about it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She told Fallon,

I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad b*tch. It was exactly what I needed...It was a formative moment in my life.

Portman also shared more about the moment on the Today Show while promoting her new TV show, Lady in the Lake. She told,

Listen, it’s the confidence boost of a lifetime. I mean, it was really exactly what I needed at that moment in my life, she served it to me. I’m forever grateful, and I love her.

Although the four words “hottest b*tches in Hollywood” might not seem special in general, they served as a huge moral boost for Portman, who was feeling low about herself at that stage in her life. It wasn’t just a one-time thing for her, it became one of the sources of hope and positivity in her life.

Natalie Portman’s Divorce from Benjamin Millepied

Portman was married to Benjamin Millepied for 11 years before they finalized their divorce in February 2024. They had been having problems since last year, with rumors flying around that Millepied had an affair.

Portman and Millepied met on the set of Black Swan back in 2010. Millepied was the choreographer who was helping Portman learn the tricky ballet moves. Their relationship started from there, and they got married in 2012 and have two kids together.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, when asked about the cheating rumors, Portman kept things to herself. She said, “It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.” She didn’t want to add fuel to the gossip fire, which was necessary for her and her family’s well-being.

However, a friend of the couple told People magazine in March,

It was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it. Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year but she’s come out the other side of it stronger and is finding joy in her family, friends and work.

While Portman was dealing with all this personal drama, Rihanna’s words came at just the right time. It just goes to show that sometimes a little kindness from an unexpected place can make a big difference. And if that kindness comes from Rihanna, it is even better.