It’s been years since the news popped off on social media. But just as a refresher, here’s Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s affair timeline. The two are arguably one of the greatest power couples in modern time, but their relationship has had the spotlight on some sour moments.
In 2007, Jay-Z told Charlie Rose he met Beyoncé “10 years ago,” or in 1997. Queen B told Seventeen a year later that “I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we first started dating. The relationship culminated years later when Beyoncé made her solo debut in 2003 with her first single “Crazy in Love” featuring her now-husband.
The two secretly tied the knot in 2008. “It was a very emotional wedding—lots of crying—and really very spiritual,” a source told People. It was held at Jay’s 13,5000-square-foot penthouse in New York City; instead of rings, they both tattooed the number 4 in Roman numerals on their ring fingers.
“There was no rush—no one expected me to run off and get married,” Beyoncé told Seventeen. “I really don’t believe that you will love the same thing when you’re 20 as you do at 30. So that was my rule: Before the age of 25, I would never get married. I feel like you have to get to know yourself, know what you want, spend some time by yourself, and be proud of who you are before you can share that with someone else.”
However, their relationship had some road bumps which sparked some of the greatest pop culture moments in history. Here’s a timeline of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s affair.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Affair timeline
May 7, 2014: Solange attacks Jay-Z in an elevator
Jay-Z’s affair rumors were rampantly spread after the 2014 Met Gala. TMZ released footage of Beyoncé’s sister Solange attacking the “Empire State of Mind” rapper in an elevator. The motive behind the attack was never disclosed, but fans suspected that it had to do with Jay-Z cheating on her sister.
The two later made a statement: “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. 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 reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. 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.”
Beyoncé referenced the moment in her song “Flawless,” Of course, sometimes shit go down / When it’s a billion dollars on an elevator.”
July 2014: Rumors of Jay-Z and Beyoncé Divorce Plans emerge
Amid the On The Run tour, rumors emerged of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s split amid the cheating rumors. “They are trying to figure out a way to split without divorcing. This is a huge concert tour, and they’ve already gotten most of the money from the promoters up front,” a source told Page Six. “Jay was outdoing Jay, and Bey was outdoing Bey. They made the classic mistake of thinking a child would change everything and help to rekindle the initial fire, and it didn’t.”
April 2016: Beyoncé releases Lemonade
Beyoncé’s critically acclaimed album Lemonade was released in 2016 and fueled rumors of Jay-Z’s affair. “Death to side chicks,” Beyoncé staunchly says during the music video of “Sorry.” The song also includes the infamous “Becky with the good hair,” which people are still wondering who it is to this day.
The identity of the woman that Jay-Z cheated on Beyoncé with has not been revealed. It was rumored that he had an affair with Rita Ora, who signed to his label Roc Nation in 2008. However, Ora vehemently denied the rumors. Rumors of Jay-Z’s infidelity first emerged when security camera footage caught Beyoncé’s sister Solange attacking the rapper in an elevator.
2016: BeyHive speculates Rachel Roy as “Becky with the good hair”
Many fans speculated that “Becky” was Rachel Roy after her long history with Jay-Z’s business enterprise Roc-A-Wear, where she met her then-husband Damon Dash.
Roy’s posts fueled the rumors after she posted an Instagram post close to the release of Lemonade. “Good hair don’t care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies, or self truths, always. Live in the light #nodramaqueens,” she wrote in a now-deleted post in which BeyHive swarmed the comments.
February 2017: Beyoncé and Jay-Z announce they’re expecting twins
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Beyoncé and Jay-Z announce they’re expecting twins in a gorgeous Instagram post. “We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. – The Carters.”
June 2017: Jay-Z confirms he cheated on Beyoncé on 4:44
Jay-Z confessed that he cheated on Beyonce in his title track “4:44” off the album of the same name. I apologize to all the women whom I toyed with your emotions / ‘Cause I was emotionless,“ he raps
He continued, “I apologize, our love was one for the ages and I contained us / And if my children knew, I don’t even know what I would do / If they ain’t look at me the same / I would prolly die with all the shame.”
2017: Jay-Z confesses that he cheated on Beyoncé
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 13: JAY-Z INTRODUCES VIC MENSA AT MACK SENNETT STUDIOS ON JULY 13, 2017 IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY IMAGES)
In an interview with The New York Times Magazine, Jay-Z admitted that he cheated on Beyoncé. “So even with women, you gonna shut down emotionally, so you can’t connect…. In my case, like, it’s deep,” he told the outlet. “And then all the things happen from there: infidelity. We were using our art almost like a therapy session. And we started making music together. And then the music she was making at that time was further along. So her album came out as opposed to the joint album that we were working on. Um, we still have a lot of that music. And this is what it became. There was never a point where it was like, ‘I’m making this album.’ I was right there the entire time.”
June 2018: Beyoncé and Jay-Z announce joint album Everything is Love
At the end of the On The Run II tour, Beyoncé announced that she and her husband Jay-Z will be releasing Everything Is Love. The album was released on June 16, 2018.
