Rihanna calls Rachel Dolezol 'hero,' faces online scorn

Rihanna is facing criticism online forher defence ofdisgraced civil rights activistRachel Dolezal.

In an interview with journalist Lisa Robinson for a cover feature in this month's issue of Vanity Fairthe pop singer described Dolezal as a hero.

"I think she was a bit of a hero, because she kind of flipped on society a little bit," Rihanna said. "Is it such a horrible thing that she pretended to be black? Black is a great thing, and I think she legit changed people's perspective a bit and woke people up."

Dolezal, the former head of the Spokane,Wash. branch of the NAACP,came under massive international scrutiny this June when it was discovered that she was born as awhite woman, despite having spent years in prominentpositions of authorityin her local black community whilepublicly identifyingas black.

Rihanna'scomments have stirred up plenty of criticism online frompeople who do think it's a horrible thing that Dolezal pretended to be black.

The memesareout in full force.

Some seem a little bit let down.

Some say they're done with the pop-star altogether.

But there are a few people supporting Rihanna online as well.

And it's got others wondering just whatit takes to be a "hero" these days.