Tyla is finally addressing the viral Met Gala moment that had social media convinced Rihanna brushed her off on fashion’s biggest night.
Days after clips from the event flooded TikTok and X, Tyla shared her side of the interaction in a candid TikTok video, explaining that the exchange was far less dramatic than the internet made it seem.
“I met her, but I think she was occupied,” Tyla said while reflecting on the now-viral moment. According to the singer, she walked up to Rihanna to say hello, but the conversation was quickly interrupted.
“I went up to her and was like, ‘Oh hey, you know,’ and she was like, ‘Hey, um… my baby daddy’s calling me,’ and then she left,” Tyla explained with a laugh. “I was like, oop!”
The brief interaction had already become a hot topic online after a short clip from the gala circulated across social media. In the video, Tyla appears to be standing a few feet away while Rihanna speaks with another person recording nearby. Though Tyla only appears briefly in the frame, fans immediately began dissecting the moment.
“What’s Rihanna’s beef with Tyla?” one user wrote on X as speculation spread. Others defended the situation, saying the interaction appeared harmless and likely happened during a hectic moment backstage at the event.
Tyla has openly expressed admiration for Rihanna in the past, which only added to fans’ emotional reactions over the alleged “snub.” Some viewers sympathized with the “Water” singer, calling her a genuine fan meeting one of her biggest inspirations.
Others pointed out that Rihanna may have simply been distracted. At the gala, A$AP Rocky was seen nearby speaking with a group of women while Rihanna stood separately, leading some fans to joke that Rihanna’s focus may have been elsewhere that night.
The couple attended the event together and continued dominating headlines throughout the evening, especially after several post-gala clips sparked online chatter.
Still, Tyla’s explanation appears to have calmed much of the speculation. Rather than feeding into rumors, the singer approached the situation with humor, making it clear that the awkward interaction was simply a quick moment during one of the busiest nights in entertainment.
