 According to Brandee J. Tecson of MTV News , " Unfaithful " is a " bittersweet ballad " that shows a new side to Rihanna . In an interview for the same publication Rihanna said about the lyrics , " I 'm referred to as a murderer in that song . Meaning , I 'm taking this guy 's life by hurting him , cheating on him . He knows , and it makes him feel so bad . " She continued , " We always put it out there that guys cheat , and finally someone put it in perspective : girls cheat too . " In another interview for Newsday , she said that " Unfaithful " was " birthed out of a relationship she outgrew when she was fourteen " . She added that the nature of the relationship was not physical . 
