Rihanna makes her long-awaited musical return with ‘Friend of Mine’ – as Smurfette in the soundtrack for The Smurfs.
After eight years of musical silence, Rihanna is finally back – but not with the album fans have been begging for. Instead, her new single ‘Friend of Mine’ arrives as part of the upcoming The Smurfs movie soundtrack, where she also voices Smurfette.
The music video takes place in Smurfworld, with Rihanna strolling through oversized daisies in a setting reminiscent of her Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 show. With a flower-covered umbrella in hand, she steps through a door and transforms into the animated Smurfette before bursting into song.
The Smurfs will hit cinemas on 18 July 2025. The story follows Papa Smurf’s abduction by villains Razamel and Gargamel, prompting the Smurfs to enter the real world to rescue him – and in doing so, uncover their true destiny.
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has shifted the course of her career, making this playful role feel fitting. But fans remain torn. “This isn’t the music we asked for,” one fan commented online. Still, Rihanna embraces the fun, saying in a preview: “I’m Smurfette – the coolest in the village.”
It’s not the album… but it’s something.
