The Truth About Solange And Jay-Z's Relationship Today
Once upon a time, Solange Knowles and Jay-Z got into a brawl so infamous that if you Google the phrase "elevator incident," their images are among the first ones that pop up. It remains one of the most high-profile scandals of the Knowles-Carter family, who are typically very private and drama-free — so, naturally, it captured the public imagination for years to come. To fans, the elevator incident is likely the most defining moment in Solange and Jay-Z's relationship.
But, according to Jay-Z, that one fight doesn't define his bond with his sister-in-law. The billionaire, who has been married to Solange's sister Beyoncé since 2008, says that aside from that disagreement in 2014, he and Solange have always been on great terms.
Thanks to the Knowles-Carter family's penchant for privacy, they've never directly revealed exactly what the elevator fight was all about, but not to worry! We have plenty of receipts to help you understand what happened that day and where Solange and Jay-Z stand now.
What went down when Solange attacked Jay-Z
In May 2014, TMZ released footage that showed Solange Knowles swinging and kicking at Jay-Z in a hotel elevator while Beyoncé stood serenely between them. The incident took place at a Met Gala after-party, and things got heated enough that a bodyguard had to hold Solange back for a few minutes.
There was no audio on the leaked video, so, at the time, nobody really knew what could have caused Solange to go off on her brother-in-law like that. Conspiracy theories ran wild, but the dominant theory was that the elevator brawl had something to do with "Becky with the good hair" — Jay-Z's long-rumored affair partner Rachel Roy, per People and E! News.
In 2017, Jay admitted to his infidelity publicly (via The New York Times). He even fessed up to his role in the conflict with Solange in one song on his album 4:44, "Kill Jay Z." He raps: "You egged Solange on / Knowin' all along, all you had to say you was wrong / You almost went Eric Benét / Let the baddest girl in the world get away." For some context, singer Eric Benét infamously cheated on his ex-wife Halle Berry.
Solange and Jay-Z apologized to each other after the incident
Ten days after the elevator incident seen 'round the world, Solange Knowles, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z released a joint statement about it as a family, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it," the statement read (via THR).
It continued: "Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."
The statement also clarified that, no, Solange wasn't intoxicated that night (another common theory). "At the end of the day families have problems and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same," the statement said.
By August 2014, Bey was making a lighthearted reference to the incident on her song "***Flawless (Remix)": "Of course sometimes s**t go down / When it's a billion dollars on an elevator." In 2017, Bey and Jay even posed in an elevator together for paparazzi. Clearly, the family was over it enough to joke about it!
Jay-Z and Solange have a 'great relationship'
If you were to judge Solange Knowles and Jay-Z's relationship from that TMZ footage alone, you'd probably think that they don't really get along. But the reality is quite the opposite, according to Jay-Z. In 2017, he gave an interview to Rap Radar on Tidal where he described his connection with his younger sister-in-law (via ABC News).
"We've always had a great relationship," Jay-Z said. "We've had one disagreement. Before and after, we've been cool. That's my sister. Not my sister-in-law, no, my sister. Period."
Jay-Z added that he also respects Solange as an artist. "I think we went into the elevator as great artists," he said in the interview. "I've always loved Solange's music; I thought she was slept on until this last album ["A Seat at the Table"]."
Solange has never addressed the incident publicly, aside from the family's statement. Beyoncé did, however, tell the now-defunct Lucky magazine that her family was "all good" and that their 2014 statement summed up their feelings on the matter (via ABC News). "[W]e all feel at peace with that," Bey said.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have also mended their own relationship, partly in therapy, according to People. Since they're in a better place, it makes sense that Jay-Z and Solange would be, too. All in all, the whole family is seemingly doing much better these days!