In 2016, Beyoncé caused a stir within the Beyhive when she mentioned a character named Becky in her song “Sorry” from the Lemonade album. This sparked widespread internet speculation about the identity of Becky, with fans theorizing that it could be Rita Ora or Jay-Z’s alleged mistress, fashion designer Rachel Roy. The lyrics and rumors led to further discussions about potential marital issues between Beyoncé and Jay-Z, particularly in light of a public fight between Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s sister Solange in an elevator in 2014, reportedly over his affair with Roy. Despite the rumors, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have remained together, sharing three children.
The elevator incident in 2014, where footage showed Jay-Z getting into a physical altercation with Solange while Beyoncé stood by silently, further fueled rumors of Jay-Z’s infidelity. Although the reason for the fight was never confirmed, many believed it was related to Jay-Z’s alleged cheating, which Beyoncé hinted at in her subsequent song “Flawless” remix. Beyoncé’s mention of elevators in the song led to speculations among fans about the incident and its underlying causes.
In her song “Sorry,” Beyoncé mentioned Becky with the good hair, further stirring the pot of rumors around infidelity within her marriage. This brought fashion designer Rachel Roy to the spotlight, who posted a controversial Instagram post around the same time as the song’s release, adding more fuel to the speculation. Jay-Z later referenced Becky in his 2017 album “4:44,” hinting at infidelity with the line “Let me alone, Becky.” Despite the rumors, both Roy and singer Rita Ora denied being Becky.
Diana Gordon, the cowriter of “Sorry,” eventually clarified that the Becky reference was not about one specific person. She expressed amusement at the widespread speculation and denials from various individuals claiming to be Becky. Gordon also noted that Beyoncé may not have anticipated the level of attention and gossip that would arise from the song. Overall, she found the situation entertaining and interesting to witness as the rumors spread across the globe.
In a full-circle moment, Beyoncé released an album called “Cowboy Carter” in 2024, which featured a cover of Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene.” In the intro to the song, Dolly Parton referenced Becky, alluding to the iconic character from Beyoncé’s Lemonade album. Parton humorously compared Becky’s good hair to a character she knew, emphasizing the connection between the two songs and their themes. This added another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussion surrounding Becky and the speculation surrounding Beyoncé’s personal life. Ultimately, the Becky saga became a fascinating and enduring topic among fans and celebrities alike, showcasing the power of Beyoncé’s music to captivate audiences and spark widespread conversation.
