(Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Kevin Mazur)
Beyoncé’s highly anticipated country album Cowboy Carter has reignited long-standing rumors surrounding Jay-Z’s infidelity, particularly about the identity of “Becky with the good hair”—the mysterious woman referenced in the lyrics of Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album Lemonade. As Cowboy Carter hit streaming platforms worldwide, fans were once again left wondering if fashion designer Rachel Roy, long suspected to be the “Becky” in question, was the true object of Jay-Z’s rumored affair, told by MSN.
Just days before the album’s release, Roy shared a cryptic post on Instagram that raised eyebrows. The quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, read, “Some look to be overjoyed at every turn, every decision, every moment, others look to be annoyed at every moment, pointing out all negatives that might go wrong. Which are you?” She continued, “My wish today: May I look to be overjoyed with every moment. May I see the beauty in everyone and myself. May I only be around those that do the same.”
This post came just as Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, particularly her cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” once again accused a romantic rival of trying to steal Jay-Z away from his family. In the song, Beyoncé fiercely warns, “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man,” leading fans to speculate whether Roy’s post was a denial of the rumors, an attempt to preemptively address impending drama, or simply an ill-timed reflection. The BeyHive, however, was quick to scrutinize, offering little sympathy toward Roy.
The allegations surrounding Roy and Jay-Z date back to the infamous 2014 Met Gala elevator incident, where Beyoncé’s sister Solange was seen attacking Jay-Z, reportedly over his infidelity. Later, when Beyoncé sang “Becky with the Good Hair” in Lemonade, many assumed she was referring to Roy, given her past ties to Jay-Z’s Rocawear clothing line.
At the time, Roy leaned into the rumors with another controversial Instagram post that read, “Good hair don’t care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies, or self truths, always.” After facing heavy backlash from the BeyHive, she quickly deleted the post, but the damage was done. Roy became the primary suspect as “Becky.”
Jay-Z would later admit his infidelity in his 2017 album 4:44, though he never named the woman involved. Now, Cowboy Carter’s reimagined cover of “Jolene,” in which Beyoncé boldly declares, “I am still a Creole banshee b*tch from Louisiana / Don’t try me,” has once again fueled speculation about who exactly she is addressing. The firestorm continues as fans eagerly debate the true identity of Jay-Z’s past lover.
