Ethan Hawke was pictured chatting with Rihanna after swapping seats with his son at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game
Ethan Hawke discusses his faith as Wildcat is released
Ethan Hawke has a sit-down discussion about his faith and how it plays into his work in the arts after the film "Wildcat" debuted Sept. 1. (Courtesy: Bishop Robert Barron via YouTube)
Ethan Hawke was called out by his daughter Maya Hawke over his attempt to flirt with Rihanna at the 2015 NBA All-Star game.
At the game, Hawke, 52, was pictured in paparazzi photos – that later went viral – having an animated conversation with the singer, 35, as they sat courtside with the actor's then 13-year-old son Levon.
In a recent Variety video, the father/daughter duo was playing a game to determine how well they knew each other when the 25-year-old "Stranger Things" actress was asked if her father would rather attend a Lady Gaga or Rihanna concert.
"I have a very fast answer because that information is really available online," Maya teased while writing down Rihanna's name. "RiRi baby, by a long shot."
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Maya Hawke poked fun at her father Ethan Hawke for his viral 2015 encounter with Rihanna. (Getty)
"Yeah, but I have been to a Lady Gaga concert, but I haven't been to a RiRi," Hawke countered.
"Well, that's partly why you would want to go," Maya replied.
Later in the video, the two-time Academy Award nominee directly addressed his encounter with the "Umbrella" songstress.
"I’ve been caught by the paparazzi openly flirting with Rihanna," he admitted.
Hawk admitted to "openly flirting" with Rihanna at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, which he attended with his son Levon. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
"Openly trying to," Maya quipped.
"So that's been the family shame," Hawke continued. "So you are really touching a nerve."
"No, it's family pride," the "Do Revenge" star said.
The pair recently collaborated on the new movie "Wildcat," which premiered on Sept. 1 at the 50th Telluride Film Festival. Based on the life of novelist Flannery O'Connor, the biographical drama was directed and co-written by Hawke and stars Maya, who was also an executive producer.
Ethan and Maya Hawke's new film "Wildcat" premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on Sept. 1. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for ABA)
Hawke shares Maya and Levon, now 21, with his ex-wife Uma Thurman, 53, to whom he was married from 1998 to 2005. He married Ryan Shawhughes in 2008, and the two have two daughters together – Clementine, 12, and Indiana, 11.
The "Before Sunrise" actor first joked about his viral moment with Rihanna following the nine-time Grammy Award winner's half-time performance at Super Bowl LVII in February.
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Hawke posted a slideshow of throwback photos from the basketball game in which he was seen swapping seats with Levon to sit next to Rihanna.
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In the first photo, Levon was pictured sitting between Hawke and the Fenty Beauty mogul. The father and son switched seats by the next photo, where Hawke could be seen leaning back in his chair and talking to Rihanna while his son face-palmed.
Hawke and Rihanna continued their chat as Levon looked on in the last snap.
"After Rihanna’s brilliant half-time performance, I’m hoping my son can find it in his heart to forgive a Dad for taking his moment," the actor wrote in the caption.
However, Levon appeared to take it in stride, commenting, "Iconic content."
Ashley Hume is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to
