14 DAY TRIAL // Rihanna was discovered by Jay Z and signed to his label, where she remains to this day. At the beginning of their working relationship, if you recall, there were countless rumors that there was something more going on between them and that it was driving Beyonce, Jay Z’s then-girlfriend, mad.
Celebrity journalist J. Randy Taraborrelli is coming out with an unauthorized Beyonce biography, “Becoming Beyonce,” and he’s bringing that old story back up. Not only does he confirm it, but he also says that the two, now the most successful couple in music, broke up for a while in 2005. And Rihanna was to blame.
Rihanna came between Beyonce and Jay Z
A source from Rihanna’s camp confirms for Taraborrelli that they used to plant scandalous stories about her and Jay Z so it would raise her public profile. While the practice is unsavory, it’s not a novelty in showbiz: as they say, bad publicity is better than no publicity at all, and “showmances” have become a sure way to bring attention to a new project.
According to Radar Online, which obtained excerpts from the book, when Rihanna came in the picture, Jay and Bey were already having some issues because she was too focused on work to work on the marriage.
Jay felt that she was investing too much time and effort, to the point where she was barely there for him anymore. Moreover, when she was under more stress, she became “moody and defensive” with him, which further increased tensions within the marriage.
Then Rihanna appeared and, with her, reports of an illicit affair with Jay. Taraborrelli says that there is a chance the hookup never happened, but Beyonce still believed the gossip.
“The two broke up for a time during that year. She flat-out told him she needed a break,” he writes. “Beyonce wasn’t sure she could trust Jay when it came to his adamant denials. She couldn’t help but be skeptical.”
Rihanna is still a sore spot
Beyonce eventually took Jay back, reconciling in 2006, but she never forgot about those Rihanna rumors. Her name is never brought up in the household, the book claims, and the one time it was, it became a headline in all the newspapers.
Yes, the book ties the couple’s split to the 2014 elevator incident, when Beyonce’s sister, Solange, put a beating on Jay Z as Bey stood by and watched. The whole thing was captured on a surveillance camera in the elevator and the tape was sold to the tabloids.
The scandal was huge but Taraborrelli says it could have been easily prevented: all Jay had to do was not insist he and Beyonce attend a post-MET Gala party hosted by Rihanna.