Rihanna, who headlined the 2023’s Super Bowl Halftime Show is being called out by the internet for wearing a Burmese ruby ring that’s worth a $1 million, during her performance.
Myanmar has some of the world’s biggest ruby reserves. The country’s precious stones are known all over the world for their astounding quality. However, the ruby trade is also a major fund provider for the military junta government in the country, that overthrew the civilian government last year and started practicing atrocities on the common people.
The Internet couldn’t keep its mouth shut after knowing that Rihanna’s expensive ring is of Burmese origin.
Firstly, the activist group, Justice for Myanmar took to Twitter to slam the pop star and urged her to call for a ban on trade of these precious Burmese Jewels. .@rihanna [should] stand with the [people] of #Myanmar & support a gems ban, after wearing a $1 million Burmese ruby ring at #SuperBowl The ring is from NYC’s Bayco Jewels, which has at least 9 items on their site featuring Myanmar gems fund junta atrocities. Ban the trade!” They wrote.
They further added that Riri’s rings featured “a rare natural, unheated 19.47-carat sugarloaf cabochon Burma ruby and 5.66-carats of trillion-cut and round-brilliant colourless diamonds set in platinum and 18kt yellow gold.”
“Again, I hope that @rihanna will apologize for wearing #Myanmar gems at #SuperBowl. I also hope #Rihanna will use her voice and power to publicly condemn #Burmese gems. I want to still believe that she supports the people in #Burma and our human rights,” A user wrote.
Ruby trade in Myanmar
The activist group mentioned that Bayco Jewels LLC, that’s based out of NYC has at least 9 different products on their site that feature various precious stones including rubies and sapphires from Myanmar.
It is known that Myanmar has been in a state of turmoil since the civilian government was overthrown by the military in February, last year.
People are now taking to social media to call the singer out for her act as Ruby mining reportedly funds the junta’s campaign.
It is interesting to note that Rihanna tweeted in support of Myanmar’s people back in 2021, when the civilian government there was overthrown.