Rihanna is suing Topshop for a whopping $5 million according to reports this morning.

The pop star is taking legal action against the high street giant after eight months of unsuccessful negotiations concerning a t-shirt bearing her image which is being sold without her consent.

Topshop in the UK has been selling a garment bearing Rihanna's image.

A source told the New York Post: "Rihanna's management asked Topshop a number of times to stop selling her image and were told, 'We do what we want.'

"They buy the pictures from a photographer, but they do not pay the artist licensing fees. Unfortunately, UK law does not protect the artist.

"What is most offensive for Rihanna is that they basically told her, 'Go to hell. We don't care, we are going to continue selling you.' They offered her $5,000 and said they don't care."

The pop star recently unveiled her own collection for River Island.

Rihanna is said to have spent almost $1 million in litigation so far but is keen to continue with the case and sue the fashion chain owned by Sir Philip Green.

"She says it's the principle, and wants to make a statement about it. They are taking advantage of artists. It is just exploitation. What they are doing is wrong," the source explained.

The garment, which is only being sold in the UK, is provided by a third-party supplier according to a Topshop insider who added: "We are aware it is the subject of litigation... The amount of damages sought has not been articulated anywhere in the claimant's document."