A fashion designer, who claims to have been central to the drama, has shared insights that might explain the notorious elevator altercation involving Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, and her sister, Solange Knowles.
Back in 2014, security footage captured Solange aggressively confronting Jay-Z in an elevator during the Met Gala, with Beyoncé observing passively. The incident quickly became a global sensation, sparking widespread speculation about its underlying cause.
Many speculated that the conflict stemmed from an alleged affair between Jay-Z and Rachel Roy, a fashion designer who began her career at Rocawear, a clothing brand co-owned by Jay-Z.
However, a different designer has shed new light on the 2014 incident, suggesting that a remark made by Jay-Z at the Met Gala could have been the catalyst for Solange’s outburst.
Over a decade later, fashion designer Oscar G Lopez has offered his perspective on what might have provoked Solange’s anger, attributing it to a dress he created for the event.
Lopez gained national recognition and caught Roy’s attention after winning the first season of the Project Runway spinoff Under the Gunn. With a tight deadline of two weeks, the Cuban designer crafted a stunning Met Gala gown from sequined lace and silk organza.
Roy, then 40, wore Lopez’s exquisite black lace gown with a structured corset to the high-profile event.
At the gala, Roy encountered her former Rocawear employer, Jay-Z, who was dressed in a white tuxedo and black tie. He was standing with Solange, then 28.
In a conversation with the Daily Mail, Lopez explained how the gown may have sparked the altercation. He stated: “I think that Jay complimented her about the gown and Beyoncé’s sister felt that it was not proper, so it was a kind of a drama there.”
Subsequently, in the perceived privacy of an elevator, Solange was seen physically confronting Jay-Z until a member of his entourage separated them, with Solange still attempting to strike with her heels.
After the incident, Jay-Z released a statement acknowledging shared responsibility for the altercation and mentioning that he and Solange had apologized to each other, resolving to move forward as a united family.
The incident, along with the alleged affair, was widely believed to have inspired Beyoncé’s acclaimed album Lemonade, which addresses her husband’s infidelity with ‘Becky with the good hair.’
Rachel Roy later posted a photo on Instagram with the caption ‘Good hair don’t care,’ but denied being the ‘Becky’ referenced in the album.
For designer Lopez, the incident inadvertently drew attention to his work, with images of Roy in his black lace gown gaining international visibility.
“Any press is good press,” the Cuban artist told the Mail. “It’s good that people talk about you.”
“Sometimes you benefit from a scandal, not even being part of it in a very direct way. Let’s just call it collateral damage. It was meant to be.”