Rihanna Goes Back to School, Dances With N.E.R.D.

Rihanna makes surprise appearance onstage during a N.E.R.D. show at the University of Missouri

By Natalie Finn, Aly Weisman Apr 17, 2009 2:15 AMTags

Rihanna found herself caught in the middle last weekend. Of the country, that is.
 
E! News has confirmed that students who went to see N.E.R.D. on campus at the University of Missouri-Kansas City last Saturday were treated to an unexpected sideshow—an impromptu dance performance by Rihanna.

"It was a complete surprise!" Ashley Lang, president of the UMKC's Activity and Program Council, tells E! News exclusively. "I was backstage with her and she was totally friendly, said hello to everyone, and was dancing backstage by herself in high spirits."

"We did not know she was arriving until about five minutes before she did," Lang added.

Rihanna, clad in blue jeans, a cropped tee and a hoodie and accompanied by a group of girlfriends, hung out with N.E.R.D. frontman Pharrell Williams in what looked to be a "totally friendly manner," according to Lang.

"When Pharrell called his special guest to the stage, Rihanna came out a little bit surprised but totally went with it."

Incidentally, Rihanna and Pharrell share a publicist, who has not yet responded to E!'s calls for comment.

While Williams and the rest of the band stayed after the show to greet fans and sign autographs, Rihanna and her gal-pals left during N.E.R.D.'s last song. The group then hit up the local bar scene for some low-key fun.


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