The R&B singer “sent a message to Ashton,” says a source close to Rihanna, who had been quietly seeing Chris while dating the Two and a Half Men star. “He warned Ashton via their mutual friend, Diddy, to keep his distance from her. At first, Ashton took it as a joke — but Diddy told him that Chris was dead serious and really worked up about the idea that Rihanna has moved on.”
Ashton, 34, was already unhappy that his relationship with Rihanna has been revealed. In the wake of his messy split from wife Demi Moore last fall, “It’s the last thing he needs. And now Rihanna thinks that Ashton should cut off all contact with her because of Chris’ interference, which she thinks is absolutely what he wants,” says the source.
Even though Chris, 22, is dating model Karrueche Tran, Rihanna’s family and friends believe that he’s still very much in love with the 24-year-old pop superstar, says the source. But Rihanna was so angry after learning of his challenge to Ashton, she called her jealous ex and told him to back off, says the source. “This fling with Ashton is a way for her to forget about wanting Chris back,” the source explains. Even though Rihanna has publicly insisted that she’s “happy and single,” the source adds: “She’s not going to let anyone spoil this for her.”
