South African Grammy-winning artist Tyla found herself at the centre of online speculation following her appearance at the 2026 Met Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The annual fashion event, known for its high-profile guest list and viral celebrity moments, quickly shifted focus from red carpet glamour after a short clip involving Tyla and global superstar Rihanna began circulating online.
In the video, Tyla is seen standing near Rihanna, with social media users interpreting the interaction as somewhat awkward, sparking claims of possible tension or “beef” between the two artists.
The clip quickly went viral, with fans debating what had actually taken place.
However, Tyla was quick to clear the air, addressing the speculation directly on TikTok and shutting down any suggestion of conflict between her and Rihanna.
According to the singer, the moment was misunderstood and had nothing to do with bad blood.
She explained that Rihanna was simply occupied at the time she approached her.
“Everyone knows I love Ri. So, I met her last year and she was cool. When I met her, I think she was occupied because I went up to her, and she was like ‘My baby daddy is calling me’ and then she left. I was like maybe she was busy. So, I don’t know, I felt awkward, I don’t know how to say hi. I was waiting for my car and she was right there,” Tyla explained.
She further clarified that she did not take the moment personally and never assumed there was any negativity involved.
Tyla even shared a photo of herself beside Rihanna, reinforcing that there was no bad energy between them.
“I didn’t want to go up because she was busy. When we do speak, if we do end up speaking ever, I want it to be like calm so that we can both just vibe and talk nicely,” she added.
With her explanation, Tyla effectively put the rumours to rest, making it clear that what fans perceived as tension was simply an awkward, misread moment in a busy Met Gala environment.
See the video below:
— BlackMedia__ (@BlackMedia___) May 6, 2026