Rihanna Pays Tribute to Slain Fan
Rihanna took a little time out of Super Bowl Sunday to make tribute to a fan killed in Brazil recently.
"R.I.P. To one of our fallen soldiers, brutally murdered yesterday in Brazil! 14 year old Thiago, will forever be in our hearts! #Navy," the singer tweeted out yesterday in honor of Thiago Sobral Valencia.
The teen was stabbed to death by his stepfather late Friday (Jan. 31). According to Brazil247.com, 32-year-old Marcos André Andrade killed his wife, Vanessa Almeida Sobral, also 32, and her other son, Osvaldo Periria Junior, 9.
Andrade is reportedly accused of attempting to rape Valencia's 13-year-old cousin in addition to the murders. He remains at large.
After hearing the entire story Rih Rih tweeted, "Just learned that Thiago's mother and sibling were also murder victims in the horrible and tragic turn of events! Dear God! #Navy #RIPThiago."
She added another post asking her fan base — known as the "Rihanna Navy" — to send "support" to the family "during this difficult time," and added Valencia's photo to her Twitter background.
Family members of the slain teen said he was a huge fan of the Grammy winner. "All the money he received would go to buy CDs, DVDs, shirts and books of [Rihanna]. Even without knowing how to speak English," his aunt recalled.
Valencia was living with his father but visiting his mother and brother at the time of his death. The teen was said to be sleeping in the bed when he was killed.
He was such a devout Rihanna fan that the family was "worried" that spending so much time listening to her music was bringing down his grades, the aunt said.
One friend said he spoke with Valencia the morning he was murdered, and believes that he was probably listening to Rihanna's music leading up to his death, "as he always did."
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(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)