Rita Ora was rumoured to be having an affair with Jay-Z. However, Beyonce defended the singer at the time.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleBeyoncé is celebrating her 45th birthday on September 4, 2026. Amid this, the singer surprised her fans by revealing the 20th anniversary edition of her sophomore album B’Day to coincide with her birthday. In the expanded digital version, fans will find 31 tracks that feature collaborations from top artists like Maluma, Selena Quintanilla, Celia Cruz, as well as Pharell Cruz.
With Beyoncé in the spotlight, her personal life is also hogging renewed attention. Many might not be aware, but Beyoncé had once defended Rita Ora when she sparked cheating rumors with her husband, Jay-Z.
In her Lemonade track Sorry, Beyoncé had famously sung about “Becky with the good hair,” referring to what many at that time believed was Jay-Z’s infidelity with Rita Ora. As the affair rumors continued to spread like wildfire, Rita clarified while appearing on the Begin Again podcast with Davina McCall, that there was no way Beyoncé was truly referring to her in that song. She said:
“It wasn’t real, of course not, absolutely not. I wish I had good hair. It was the first time I experienced what it means to be in a messy situation. I was just so confused,” she added. And I was like, ‘Why is this happening to me? What have I done?’”
When Beyoncé initially released her history-making album Lemonade, her fans were convinced that it was about the singer's healing journey after she found out about Jay-Z’s affairs. Apart from Rita Ora, many well-known women in Hollywood, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, were rumoured to be the woman in question. However, not only did all of them deny the allegation, but Beyoncé herself did not reveal the woman's true identity.
Amid the scrutiny that Rita Ora faced at that time, the singer said Beyoncé came to her defense and was her “fairy godmother.” She even said that Beyoncé was her “protector” and that there was nothing but love between the two. In her words:
"She was my protector. That's what's insane because there was nothing but love. And, you know, again, being signed to Jay-Z, her husband, she was my biggest inspiration. She came to my first show in New York at The Box, and I sang ‘Say My Name’ in front of Beyoncé.”
For those unaware, Rita Ora is happily married to her husband, Taika Waititi. The Let Me Love You singer claimed that she was “genuinely upset” at the whole situation as she considered Beyoncé her big sister. She said that Beyoncé was not only her protector as the nasty rumors surrounded her but also “took it upon herself to look after me.”
Beyoncé and Rita proved through their actions that there was no bad blood between the two despite the affair speculations. The year that the rumors began, the duo saw each other at the Met Gala. Recounting that time, Rita said:
“When we saw each other at the Met Gala, we took a selfie, and it was gone. Because there was never anything there in the first place.”
Years after the incident, Beyoncé and Rita continue to maintain an amicable relationship. Rita said that she not only sees her to this day but also gushed about how nice Beyoncé is. She claimed that the 45-year-old would often check up on her family and the friends that she had since childhood. In fact, Beyoncé would even remember all of their names, something that Rita found “crazy.”
What are your thoughts on Beyoncé defending Rita Ora amid her affair rumors with Jay-Z? Let us know.
Also read: Alix Earle Coyly Reacts To Dating Buzz With Tom Brady, Months After Speculations Swirled, 'Having..'