Rihanna

As you know, Rihanna‘s eighth studio album, ANTI (pronounced “Auntie”), supposedly leaked “accidentally” on Jay Z‘s flop music streaming app, TIDAL.

After the 27-year-old Bajan singer feigned outrage on social media, she provided a link for her social media followers to download the entire album for free.

Well, just 24 hours later, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced Rihanna’s album had gone platinum.

But how is it possible for a FREE album to go platinum? Doesn’t platinum signify 1,000,000 albums sold, not given away for free?

Blogger That Grape Juice took to Twitter to question the validity of RIAA’s announcement.

“This ‘ANTI’ Platinum madness is making a mockery of the music industry. How can a FREE album SELL 1 million?!… They are handing out Platinum plaques like bus passes,” he tweeted.

Obviously this is more of Jay Z’s back room deal shenanigans. I wonder how much money he paid the RIAA for the bogus platinum certification?

By the way, the reviews are in for Rihanna’s ANTI album, and they all agree that Rihanna’s new album is a bust.