A resurfaced video captures a young 16-year-old Rihanna discussing her audition experience with Jay-Z.
As Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, faces a lawsuit accusing him of raping a teenage girl on December 8, a past clip of Rihanna speaking about the music mogul has reemerged online.
The legal case claims that Carter, along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, raped a 13-year-old girl following an awards ceremony more than twenty years ago.
Combs is currently dealing with charges related to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals to engage in prostitution. He has consistently denied these allegations.
Carter has also denied the allegations revealed last Sunday, criticizing the lawyer who filed the lawsuit for making what he describes as a ‘terrible error in judgment’ by assuming ‘all celebrities are the same’.
Following the lawsuit’s emergence, a video from 2005 has reappeared, showing Rihanna on The Tyra Banks Show discussing her audition experience with Carter.
At 16, Rihanna auditioned for Carter’s Def Jam Recordings, describing herself as ‘so nervous’ prior to meeting the producer.
She said: “I was shaking. But the moment I walked into the office the atmosphere was so warm and welcoming.”
During the audition, she performed an acapella rendition of ‘Pon de Replay’. Carter allegedly remarked that they ‘don’t sign songs here’ but rather ‘sign artists’, expressing interest in Rihanna.
However, social media users have been unsettled by what Carter reportedly said afterward.
Rihanna recalled: “He said, ‘There are two ways to leave here. You go through the door with the deal signed or through this window, and we’re on the 29th floor’.
This comment quickly sparked discussion online.
One Reddit user remarked: “Yeah, I get it it’s a joke, haha…but really? The audience was confused as well given the half-hearted laugh they gave.”
“You know they were doing some evil things back in the time,” another commented.
Another person recalled: “I remember this, I found it weird back then.”
Conversely, some argued that the remark was strange but harmless.
One user stated: “This is literally trying to make a story out of nothing.”
They noted that both sides had lawyers present in a boardroom while working out the contract, emphasizing that it was not a ‘hang you by your legs out the balcony’-type gangster situation. They suggested looking into interviews where Rihanna discusses it for more context.”
“Yeah that’s what I got out of it – he just really wanted to sign her. I mean it’s a weird thing to say yes but in a cocky asshole way, not a mafia way,” another added.