19 August,2015 03:34 PM IST | | A Correspondent
Memphis Grizzlies’ basketballer hints at romantic future with pop star in an interview to a website, but she claims she’s never even met him
Matt Barnes, Pop star Rihanna
Pop star Rihanna may not be willing to confirm or deny her relationship with Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, but she has come out slamming NBA star Matt Barnes (right) for claiming he's dating her.
Pop star Rihanna. Pic/Getty images
In a recent interview with American entertainment website TMZ.com, Memphis Grizzlies' player Barnes (35) said he thought his relationship with the 27-year-old pop star is blossoming into a romance and that they had already "passed the crush stage."
"Rihanna's my friend right now, so we'll see where it goes," said Barnes. When asked if he felt they have a future, he replied: "Yeah, possibly. It (the relationship) has passed the crush stage a little bit... just a little bit."
Matt Barnes
Rihanna is reportedly outraged at Barnes' comments and took to social media to insist that the two haven't even met, let alone the possibility of a romance.
Posting a screengrab of Matt's interview with the American website, Rihanna wrote on Instagram: "#bishwhere #thedevilisaliar #shesnotthatintoyou #shesnotintoyouatall #shesneverevenmetyou #thisactuallyhurtmyfeelings #defamationofcharacter (sic)" Meanwhile, Rihanna's relationship with British F1 ace Hamilton is growing.
The couple were seen partying in New York on Friday night. It is learnt that the singer got quite cosy with the Mercedes driver at the annual Crop Over Carnival in Barbados, where the pair spent a lot of quality time together.