Rihanna calls Rachel Dolezal a 'hero' in Vanity Fair interview and praises her for changing people's perspective

“Is it such a horrible thing that she pretended to be black?"

(Getty Images)

Rihanna has spoken up in defence of Rachel Dolezal, the white civil rights activist who became a hate figure earlier this year for identifying as a black woman.

Dolezal was in the middle of a huge controversy over race, identity and cultural appropriation this summer after she claimed she was black - despite her white parents 'coming out' and suggesting otherwise.

Dolzal refused to retreat from her identity as a black woman, despite having to resign from her position as the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).

But Rihanna, real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has praised her for changing people’s perspective in the new issue of Vanity Fair.

“I think she is a bit of a hero, because she kind of flipped on society a little bit,” she says.

“Is it such a horrible thing that she pretended to be black? Black is a great thing, and I think she legit changed people’s perspective and woke people up.”

Elsewhere in the interview, she discusses her fierce work ethic and how she doesn’t want to focus on her personal life.

“I’ve got too much on my plate, and I’m not even worried about it,” she says.

“An extraordinary gentleman, with a lot of patience, will come along when I least expect it.”