Rihanna heats up with club owner Richie Akiva: sources

BY MARIANNE GARVEY, BRIAN NIEMIETZ AND OLI COLEMAN

Published: Monday, February 23, 2015, 2:40 AM

Updated: Monday, February 23, 2015, 2:40 AM

richie_akiva via Instagram Richie Akiva posted an Instagram photo with Rihanna on Feb. 20.

Rihanna fueled up at L.A. restaurant Georgio Baldi a day after celebrating her 27th birthday at a private have fun in La La Land. That bash was attended by RiRi’s buddy Leonardo DiCaprio and organized by her “special” friend, Up & Down club title-holder Richie Akiva, Confidenti@l has learned.

“Richie threw the RiRi have fun – not Leo,” an insider accurate to the Friday night bash tells Confidenti@l.

Even Confidenti@l sources accurate to DiCaprio have scoffed at the latest round of rumors that have the “The Wolf of Wall Road” star suddenly taking an interest in have fun plotting.

@richie_akiva posted several photos of himself next to the “Diamonds” singer at the birthday bash, one of which included the heading “What a night!!!! Birthday Bash #riribdayparty #epic. HAPPY BORN DAY @badgalriri.”

A second Instagram photo from Akiva to Rihanna read “#sweethearted.”

Kristina Bumphrey/AP

In this image released by Starpix, Rihanna attends the Zac Posen Fall 2015 show during Fashion Week in New York on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

Enlarge Mike Windle WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 06: Richie Akiva attends the Yellowtail Sunset Grand Opening on February 6, 2015 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Yellowtail Sunset) Enlarge

Rihanna and Richie Akiva have been getting accurate, say sources.

Celebrity glossies fell in like with the thought of a “Rionardo” romance after considering the pair coming in and out of Akiva owned club Up & Down on Valentine’s Day. But as we reported last Wednesday, Akiva is the common link between the “Blood Diamond” star and ‘Diamonds” singer.

“If they’re not dating, they’re hanging out, you know?” a prominent nightlife insider said about RiRi and Akiva’s connection.

Gossip that DiCaprio and Rihanna were an item started around New Year’s Eve when the two superstars were photographed partying with friends in St. Barth’s. Though less recognizable than his well-known friends, Akiva was also there and even appeared in some of those photos.

“Richie was with Rihanna in St. Barth’s — that’s where it started,” sources tell us. Our nightlife insider, who’s seen the trio hanging out in nightclubs on several occasions, say “She’s not showing up with Leo, she’s showing up with Richie.”