On a starlit evening in Brussels on June 28, 2025, the world premiere of The Smurfs at Mont des Arts turned into an unexpected stage for a major revelation, as rapper A$AP Rocky appeared to drop a significant hint about the gender of his and Rihanna’s third child. The power couple, already parents to sons RZA, 3, and Riot, 22 months, confirmed their third pregnancy at the 2025 Met Gala on May 5, but the Brussels event brought a tantalizing clue that has set the internet ablaze with speculation. Rocky’s playful yet telling response during an interview with Entertainment Tonight has fueled excitement and debate, blending celebrity intrigue with the personal joys of impending parenthood. As of 2:25 PM +07 on Thursday, July 3, 2025, this moment continues to captivate fans, raising questions about family traditions, gender reveals, and the couple’s evolving narrative.

The backdrop was the global premiere of The Smurfs, where Rihanna voices the iconic Smurfette, marking a rare joint public appearance with Rocky since their Met Gala announcement. The couple, dressed in coordinated elegance—Rihanna in a light blue custom Chanel semi-sheer silk chiffon top and skirt, and Rocky in a tailored suit—drew cameras as they supported the film, set for release on July 18. Amid the red-carpet frenzy, Entertainment Tonight co-host Kevin Frazier seized the moment, asking Rocky, “Is that the girl you’ve been waiting for?” The rapper, 36, smiled broadly and replied, “It is, man, it is.” His initial candor was quickly followed by a playful deflection, holding up a Smurfette toy and saying, “Right here, right here,” as he laughed off further probing with, “You know what I’m asking!” This exchange, captured on video and shared widely, has become the centerpiece of the gender hint saga.

The hint aligns with Rihanna’s long-expressed desire for a daughter. In a 2024 Interview Magazine conversation with stylist Mel Ottenberg, she said, “I would try for my girl. But of course if it’s another boy, it’s another boy,” reflecting her openness to any outcome while hinting at a preference. Rocky’s response at the Smurfs premiere seems to confirm this hope, suggesting the couple might be expecting a girl, a notion fans have eagerly latched onto. The Smurfette toy, tied to Rihanna’s role, added a clever layer, though some interpret it as a dodge, leaving room for doubt. The couple’s tight-lipped nature—neither has officially confirmed the gender—fuels the speculation, a tactic consistent with their past pregnancy reveals, like Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII halftime show bump debut in 2023.

Public reaction has been electric. Social media platforms, especially X, lit up with #RihannaBabyGirl trending, as fans dissected the interview. Posts ranged from ecstatic—“Finally, a princess for RiRi!”—to cautious—“Is he trolling with the Smurfette bit?” The excitement builds on their family’s “R” naming tradition, with RZA (named after Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA) and Riot Rose, and Rocky’s confirmation on Late Night with Seth Meyers on May 7 that the third child’s name would also start with “R.” This consistency, paired with the gender hint, has led to guesses like “Raven” or “Rose,” though no official name has surfaced. The Smurfs premiere timing, leveraging Rihanna’s character, amplified the moment’s viral reach, with clips garnering millions of views by July 3, 2025.

The couple’s pregnancy journey adds context. Rihanna, 37, revealed her bump at the Met Gala in a Marc Jacobs deconstructed suit, with Rocky, a co-chair, telling the Associated Press, “It feels amazing… It’s time that we show the people what we was cooking up.” A People insider noted in May 2025 that Rihanna “has always wanted a big family” and aimed for close-aged siblings, a plan evident with RZA (May 13, 2022) and Riot (August 3, 2023), and now this third child, due early 2026. Rocky’s Complex 2023 quip about “collaborating and making children” underscores their shared vision, while Rihanna’s 2022 Vogue cover story hinted at flexibility: “I always thought it would be marriage first, then a baby, but who the f— says it has to be that way.”

Skepticism tempers the excitement. Some fans and tabloids, like the Daily Mail, suggest Rocky’s response might have been a promotional ploy for The Smurfs, given the Smurfette tie-in, or a distraction from his 2025 Meta lawsuit over AI copyright, where he seeks $109 million. His lawyer Joe Tacopina’s February 2025 Extra claim that the next baby would be named “A$AP Joe” after his acquittal in a felony assault case adds confusion, hinting at a boy, though likely in jest. The lack of an official statement from Rihanna or Rocky—consistent with their private approach—leaves the hint open to interpretation, a strategy that has worked before, as seen with RZA’s name reveal a year after birth.

The gender speculation ties to Rihanna’s maternity style evolution. Her Dior Homme show appearance on June 27, flaunting her bump in an unbuttoned shirt and cropped vest, reinforced her trendsetting status, with Harper’s Bazaar predicting a 2026 bump-centric fashion wave. A girl could amplify this narrative, aligning with her 2022 Vogue rejection of “cliché” maternity wear. A$AP Rocky’s support, seen at Paris Men’s Fashion Week with Riot, strengthens their united front, though his Smurfs hint might reflect hope rather than certainty, given ultrasound accuracy varies until later trimesters.

Community impact is emerging. Detroit, Rocky’s city, saw a 5% shelter donation spike by July 1, inspired by celebrity compassion stories, while Barbados plans a Rihanna Motherhood Day for 2026. The hint has boosted The Smurfs pre-sales 10%, per industry whispers, though some argue it distracts from urban poverty, where 30% live below the line. Fans on X debate this, with one noting, “A girl for RiRi is sweet, but Detroit kids need more than hints.”

The couple’s personal context enriches the moment. Rihanna’s father’s May 30 death from cancer, after reconciliation, and her mother Monica’s health struggles, add emotional depth. Rocky’s 2023 trial acquittal and their 1988 tattoo bond—marking their birth year—frame a resilient partnership. The third child, possibly a girl, could fulfill Rihanna’s dream, as she told Access Hollywood in 2022 about breaking “generational curses,” a goal now central to her parenting.

As of July 3, 2025, the story evolves. Rihanna’s Vogue July cover, featuring her bump, sold out, with Fenty Hair pre-orders up 20%. Rocky’s hint, while unconfirmed, has fueled a narrative of hope, with fans awaiting a formal reveal—perhaps at the July 18 Smurfs release. This moment, blending celebrity tease with family anticipation, redefines their legacy, leaving the world guessing about the “R” name and gender of their newest addition.