Drake announced that he’s been in love with Rihanna since he was 22 years old while presenting her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night.
Rihanna performed four times throughout the MTV telecast, but it wasn’t until the final moments of the show when the internet went crazy because of the Toronto-born rapper.
It’s long been rumoured that the two superstars have been in a discreet relationship — hinted at through frequent collaborations and appearances together — but they’ve never confirmed the specifics.
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During the awards show Sunday, Drake took the stage in a Tom Ford tuxedo and proceeded to melt everyone’s hearts with his speech all about Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty.
“The first time I met Robyn Fenty was in 2005,” he said, referencing the video shoot where the pair first met. “The song was Pon De Replay and the director of the video was Little X. I was introduced to her as the kid who played background music at the restaurant as people ate their dinner. It’s hard to believe that 11 years later all three of us would come together to create the visual for a song called Work.”
Cue all the screams.
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“Today the world knows Little X as Director X, they know me as Drake and not the kid singing as you order pasta. But 11 years later they still all know Rihanna as the one and only Rihanna.”
“She succeeds by doing something no one else in this industry does, which is being herself,” he said of the Grammy-winning performer.
“This woman has surpassed all the competition while still being the same girl from Barbados surrounded by the same friends, speaking with the same accent… most of all, we love the woman who hasn’t changed since day one,” Drake said as he praised her performances, style and sense of self, before saying one line that sent the internet over the edge.
“She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old. She’s one of my best friends in the world, all, my adult life I’ve looked up to her even though she’s younger than me.”
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After Rihanna accepted the award, Drake turned over the Moon Man and went in for a kiss.
It was a slightly awkward moment as Drake landed in the region of Rihanna’s neck instead of her lips, which became the GIF that kept on giving on Twitter. It’s hard to say whether he went in for a kiss that was deflected, because Rihanna seems to have went in for a hug.
Vulture.com tweeted it was “The curve to end all curves.”
The VMAs Twitter account put the kiss on a loop, tweeting: “I’m just gonna leave this gem right here.”
His heartfelt pledge of devotion had some people feeling the love, even if it just made Rihanna roll her eyes.
The internet went crazy for the couple, now known as “Aub-Rih.”
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A MTV staff member captured the two entering the backstage area, with Drake tripping on the train of Rihanna’s dress.
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Drake won the award for Best Hip Hop Video earlier in the evening for Hotline Bling, but was stuck in traffic and couldn’t accept his award.
Sharing a snap of the two together in front of the CN Tower in Toronto, Drake praised the object of his affection, writing in the caption:
“This is a night for us all to be thankful for what you have done for us! You have affected so many of our lives in the best way possible. Tonight we celebrate you! @badgalriri.”
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On Friday, the Canadian rapper surprised Rihanna with a billboard in L.A. congratulating her on receiving MTV’s Video Vanguard Award and finishing her Anti world tour.
Drake and Rihanna have collaborated together before, previously working on the tracks Take Care, What’s My Name?, Work and Too Good.
With files from The Associated Press