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Lonely Island Reveals Why Rihanna Mispronounced Her Name in 'Shy Ronnie'

Akiva Schaffer credits her precise mimicry of Andy Samberg’s temp track during a hurried 2009 session.

Overview

  • The explanation came on The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, which revisits the group’s SNL digital shorts.
  • Samberg had said “Ree-awn-uh” on a guide vocal, and Rihanna matched his inflection for the recorded intro.
  • Rihanna’s preferred pronunciation is “Rih-ANN-uh,” and Schaffer recalls her saying she didn’t mind the variation.
  • The team described a rapid production: her vocals were cut in about 30–40 minutes, with the shoot executed in roughly 45 minutes.
  • Samberg says she still greets him with “Shy Ronnie,” reflecting the friendly legacy of the 2009 sketch and its 2010 sequel.