Pop superstar and philanthropist Rihanna was seen hugging French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday after he pledged to donate $250 million to the Global Partnership for Education, for which Rihanna serves as an ambassador. The huge donation comes after Rihanna had publicly and privately lobbied Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron to support funding girls’ education in underprivileged countries.
In addition to their hug at a conference hosted by Macron in Dakar, Senegal, the two also traded pleasantries on Twitter. “Merci @emmanuelmacron for stepping up to co-host @GPforEducation’s Financing Conference in Dakar! Will France pledge €250M for @GPforEducation tomorrow?” Rihanna posted on Twitter.
Merci @emmanuelmacron for stepping up to co-host @GPforEducation’s Financing Conference in Dakar! Will France ???????? pledge €250M for @GPforEducation tomorrow? @claralionelfdn @glblctzn ????
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 1, 2018
“When I commit, I deliver. @Rihanna, France will always side with those fighting for a better education. #FundEducation,” the president tweeted in response.
When I commit, I deliver. @Rihanna, France will always side with those fighting for a better education. #FundEducation pic.twitter.com/9MLGWp2eaS
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 2, 2018
Rihanna also delivered a speech on Friday at the conference. “We’ve made tremendous progress today, but of course, our work is never done. We have a long way to go,” Rihanna said. “This is a fight we’re never gonna stop fighting until every boy and every girl has access to education.” Watch a highlight from her speech below.
Read the full story at CNN.
*Correction: Emmanuelle Macron is the president of France, not the country’s prime minister.
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