There is an endless fascination with contract riders for good reason. This is how we find out what type of private jet Sarah Palin prefers — and get confirmation that Mariah Carey really is a loon.
You always wanted to believe that music star Rihanna was normal. That's how she came across. Even with all the glitz and sudden success, she seemed somewhat grounded. She even fell in with an charismatic abusive boyfriend, a situation a lot of young women find themselves in.
But anytime you think you know someone in the public eye, you don't.
Rihanna's tour rider has come out though — and it mostly confirms that she's no diva. The 22-year-old multi-millionaire's "demands" center on a couch big enough to take a nap on, animal print pillows with no sequins (sequins aren't exactly good for snoozing), a clean rug and a thoroughly scrubbed toilet. Like, you wouldn't want your work toilet spotless if you could require it?
Considering some of the concert acts that frequent the rooms where Rihanna relaxes before a show, these are mild, extremely practical demands.
That hasn't stopped some less-than-sophisticated publications from running blaring headlines like, "Rihanna's bizarre backstage requests" and Rihanna's "Demanding Tour Rider." Even the Wall Street Journal focuses on Rihanna's Deep Clean toilet provision as if that's some outrageous request.
Sorry, nothing crazy to see here. Just a refreshingly normal young star.
