What's Happening on the Rihanna Plane? Dispatches from the Front Line
For years, the world has gazed at Rihanna's tour plane from a distance — watching the mysterious and guarded vehicle from afar, hearing only small snippets of news from Rihanna-controlled media organs, relying entirely on accounts of refugees and political exiles. But in a historic display of glasnost, the Barbadian pop star has invited hundreds (literally! 200!) of journalists and fans to join her on a Boeing 777 for a seven-day, seven-country, seven-concert mini-tour, called #777Tour (pronounced: hashtag-seven-seven-seven-tour).
These are their stories.
The tour started in Mexico City on Wednesday night and will continue in Toronto tonight; tomorrow they're off to Stockholm.
What is the plane like?
"The plane is, as you might expect, luxurious," Maud Deitch reports.
What was the pre-plane experience?
There were "a few trips on and off the bus when arriving to a private boarding space at Los Angeles International Airport — due to the busses not communicating with the airport beforehand," Erika Ramirez claims.
How are the seats on the plane arranged?
"The inside of a 777 is set up so that you're seated in three columns of three," according to Mary H.K. Choi.
What were some things Rihanna said over the plane intercom?
. @rihanna on the intercom: "Theres an emergency. Code 777. Everybody buckle up your seat belts! LETS GET DRUUUNK!" #777Tour
— VH1 Music (@VH1Music) November 14, 2012
"Hello? Hello? Can you hear meeeeee??" -@rihanna on the intercom again! #777Tour
— VH1 Music (@VH1Music) November 14, 2012
What kinds of supplies are being provided? Are they comprehensive, toiletry-wise?
"[W]e got overnight kits on the plane and they're pretty comprehensive, toiletry-wise," Julianne Smolinski advises. Also:
Wow. @rihanna just gave everyone on the plane a diamond! Conflict free too. Sweet. #777Tour
— Scott Fox (@ScottFoxonair) November 14, 2012
What is the atmosphere on the plane?
.@rihanna pouring me a glass of ace of spades during the flight. #777tour instagr.am/p/SB3HOikVbK/
— e. (@3rika) November 14, 2012
Rihanna on the plane PA: "This is an emergency. WHO'S READY FOR TEQUILA, MOTHERFUCKERS?" #isthisreallife? #777tour twitter.com/BoobsRadley/st…
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) November 14, 2012
Check this out. @rihanna walked through the plane pouring drinks for us. This is one of many empties. #777Tour twitter.com/ScottFoxonair/…
— Scott Fox (@ScottFoxonair) November 15, 2012
I literally cannot believe this happened earlier today twitter.com/mauddeitch/sta…
— Maud Deitch (@mauddeitch) November 15, 2012
bad gyal @rihanna got me wavy on her #777tour plane: youtube.com/watch?v=K_q5Y2…
— Felipe (@Felipe2egundo) November 15, 2012
Poppin bottles with @rihanna. 1000s miles high. No big deal. instagr.am/p/SB46dINltl/ #777Tour
— VH1 Music (@VH1Music) November 15, 2012
e esse foi o dia em que a @rihanna me serviu champagne durante o vôo!!!@ Los Angeles > Cidade do México instagr.am/p/SDuwIcQnBx/
— Paulo Azevedo (@paulo_az) November 15, 2012
What did the tickets for the Mexico City show look like?
What tickets for the Mexico show tonight look like. #777Tour twitter.com/ScottFoxonair/…
— Scott Fox (@ScottFoxonair) November 15, 2012
Rihanna: her smell?
"This feels like a movie! And I'm the president!" -Rihanna WHO INCIDENTALLY SMELLS AMAZING #777tour twitter.com/BoobsRadley/st…
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) November 14, 2012
"No one else on earth smells like Rihanna," confirms Julianne Escobedo Shepherd.
How are the Germans doing?
The plane is going bonkers. I think a German guy fainted. Cc: @popdust #777tour
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) November 14, 2012
Throughout the #777Tour, Gawker.com will be bringing you updates about the status, location, activities and smells of the Rihanna Plane and its inhabitants, cobbled together from the distorted dispatches of the embedded Rihanna correspondents.