I mean Work being #1 with no promo, performance or effort why does Rihanna continue to enjoy the success that seems to be so elusive to others?

Edit: Despite being continuously doubted even after Work became a global Slay, the ANTI era continues to reap success with ANTI being certified 2x platinum and still remaining in the top 10, Needed Me and TIWYCF smashing with Too Good and Nothing is Promised gearing up for a slay, as well as continuously breaking records and receiving acclaim (see LOTB). Why?

Work going #1 is the only up this era has had so far and I doubt that's due to pure sales. Try again.

Because she's the queen of our generation

Samsung

She never flopped to begin with.

I feel so bad for Rihanna haters, what a rough life

She can never lose.

Because queen. Poor everyone else.

because the messiness was more of an internal problem (with her) than an external one (with the public)

Because she's huge. This is her flop era and it's probably gonna end up being double platinum

For example messy eras like 4/ARTPOP never got to see a #1 smash like this era does. I guess Rihanna's lows aren't that low after all.

Horrible album sales.
Horrible ticket sales.
Messy era.
Cancellations left and right...

But somehow one single, which isn't even platinum and went #1 mostly because of streaming, completely invalidates the fact this entire era has been a massive mess? Are the Navy finally admitting Rihanna is a singles artist? If one single means her era isn't a flop, that must mean singles are all that matter and she is a singles artist... Interesting. Rihanna better rake in those hundreds of dollars from her streaming.

I get it, though. I remember grasping at straws during my fave's flop era.

black madonna thats why

Exactly

Thankfully something good came out of this messy era but DEAD at the navy sounding so confident now

Drake his powa, got Work to # 1!

No one is saying the era isn't a mess, it's a huge massive mess.

But what we are saying is that even the mess the era is managing to do pretty well. An era like for example ARTPOP was a mess and a complete flop. This era is managing to find success in different areas. I mean the fact that the album is selling after it was gifted speaks volumes.

The question was why is Rihanna's messiest era still successful, so mentioning all the ways it was messy is irrelevant, we know girl. Yet despite all of the above she is at least capable of a #1 unlike the ARTPOP era which you would have us believe, slayed. Poor you.

When they get a corporate sponsorship to buy their albums.