Rita Ora Reveals Beyoncé’s Reaction to Rumors She Was “Becky With the Good Hair”
Klaudia//July 4, 2025
Beyoncé stepped in to be Rita Ora’s bodyguard.
While the “Body on Me” singer faced rumors back in 2016 that she was the “Becky with the good hair” Beyoncé sang about in her Lemonade track “Sorry,” thought to be about Jay-Z’s infidelity Rita revealed that Queen Bey wasn’t letting that speculation fly.
“It wasn’t real, of course not, absolutely not,” Rita said on the June 28 episode of the Begin Again podcast with Davina McCall. “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?’”
After all, when Beyoncé released her history-making album Lemonade, which may considered to be about her healing journey after learning about Jay-Z’s alleged affairs, there was rampant speculation about who the other woman was. And though Rita, Rachel Roy and even Gwyneth Paltrow were all rumored to be the woman in question, they all denied it at the time—and Beyoncé herself never revealed the woman’s identity.
For Rita, at the time, the “Déjà vu” singer was her “fairy godmother” as she navigated the scrutiny.
“She was my protector. That’s what’s insane because there was nothing but love,” the Masked Singer judge—now married to Taika Waititi—added. “And, you know, again, being signed to Jay-Z, her husband, she being 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.”
“I was actually genuinely upset, because that’s my big sister,” she added, “protector and she took it upon herself to look after me.”
And that year, the duo proved there was no bad blood as they took a photo together at the 2016 Met Gala.
“When we saw each other at the Met Gala we took a selfie and it was gone,” the 50 Shades of Grey actress said. “Because there was never anything there in the first place.”
And years later, Rita said the love is still there with her and the “16 Carriages” singer.
“And I still see her ‘til this day,” she shared. “And she’s always been so nice, and proud, and checking up on my family and friends that I’ve had since childhood, remembering their names. I mean it’s crazy.”
While the “Body on Me” singer faced rumors back in 2016 that she was the “Becky with the good hair” Beyoncé sang about in her Lemonade track “Sorry,” thought to be about Jay-Z’s infidelity Rita revealed that Queen Bey wasn’t letting that speculation fly.
“It wasn’t real, of course not, absolutely not,” Rita said on the June 28 episode of the Begin Again podcast with Davina McCall. “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?’”
After all, when Beyoncé released her history-making album Lemonade, which may considered to be about her healing journey after learning about Jay-Z’s alleged affairs, there was rampant speculation about who the other woman was. And though Rita, Rachel Roy and even Gwyneth Paltrow were all rumored to be the woman in question, they all denied it at the time—and Beyoncé herself never revealed the woman’s identity.
For Rita, at the time, the “Déjà vu” singer was her “fairy godmother” as she navigated the scrutiny.
“She was my protector. That’s what’s insane because there was nothing but love,” the Masked Singer judge—now married to Taika Waititi—added. “And, you know, again, being signed to Jay-Z, her husband, she being 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.”
“I was actually genuinely upset, because that’s my big sister,” she added, “protector and she took it upon herself to look after me.”
And that year, the duo proved there was no bad blood as they took a photo together at the 2016 Met Gala.
“When we saw each other at the Met Gala we took a selfie and it was gone,” the 50 Shades of Grey actress said. “Because there was never anything there in the first place.”
And years later, Rita said the love is still there with her and the “16 Carriages” singer.
“And I still see her ‘til this day,” she shared. “And she’s always been so nice, and proud, and checking up on my family and friends that I’ve had since childhood, remembering their names. I mean it’s crazy.”