Singer Tyla has opened up about an ‘awkward’ interaction with Rihanna at the Met Gala, following a viral clip that sparked speculation of a snub. The 24-year-old South African artist took to TikTok to clarify the situation, revealing that a previous encounter left her feeling uneasy about approaching the Barbadian superstar.
Tyla Recalls First Meeting with Rihanna
In her TikTok video, Tyla recounted a meeting with Rihanna a year ago. ‘I met her last year, and she was cool. You know, I met her, but I think she was occupied cause she was like, I was like, I went up to her. I was like, “oh, hey”, you know, she was like, “hey, um, um, my baby daddy’s calling me”. And then she left, and I was like, “Oh, maybe she was busy”,’ she said. Tyla described the encounter as making her feel ‘awkward’, adding, ‘I don’t know how to say hi if I feel like someone’s busy.’
Addressing the Met Gala Clip
At the Met Gala, held in New York on Monday night, a clip showed Rihanna, 38, with her back to Tyla, leading some to believe she was being snubbed. Tyla explained she chose not to approach Rihanna again due to their past interaction. ‘I don’t wanna go up because I felt like she was busy. You know what I mean? And the last time she was busy,’ she said. ‘When we do speak, if we do end up speaking ever, I want us to be like calm so we both can just, you know, vibe and talk nicely.’
Mixed Reactions to Tyla's Explanation
Tyla, who gained international fame with her 2023 single ‘Water’, faced criticism for posting the video. Comments included ‘What’s the point of this video?’ and ‘Why would you post this?’ However, some defended her, saying she was trying to ‘clear the silly narrative that Rihanna was rude for ignoring her’.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Tense Moment
The spotlight also fell on Rihanna and her partner A$AP Rocky after a tense moment at the event. A video showed Rihanna looking annoyed while Rocky chatted with Swarovski’s global creative director on the carpet. Later, cameras captured them appearing to argue, with Rihanna staring him down as he avoided eye contact. A source told TMZ the couple were ‘totally drained’ from a long day and that ‘they’re happy, and people are simply overanalysing a tired moment’. Many defended the couple online, reminding fans that arguments between couples are normal.
