Jimmy Kimmel’s pronunciation of Rihanna’s name caused some bewilderment among viewers.
However, the 95th Academy Awards executive producer and late night host’s wife, Molly McNearney, said Variety that the 55-year-old was determined to pronounce the Work singer name correctly.
“Jimmy is obsessed with pronouncing people’s names correctly,” McNearney said, adding, “We always find video of the person saying their own name on camera. And that’s how you pronounce Rihanna.
The 45-year-old also suggested that the Barbadian singer pronounces her name differently from Americans.
“Now America knows how to pronounce his name, although they don’t,” she said. “They’ll assume Jimmy ****** is up, but no, he didn’t!”
The Grammy winner also taught everyone to pronounce her name correctly multiple times.
During Ellen’s show appearance in 2010, the pop star told the host, “I think it’s my accent; it makes me say “Ri-anna”.