The rapper’s past mistakes have been under constant public scrutiny. Over the years, there have been many rumors about him, especially involving his marriage to the talented “Single Ladies” singer, Beyoncé. Allegedly, several women, both from inside and outside the entertainment industry, were involved with him during their marriage.
Jay-Z’s unfaithfulness has been a recurring topic in their story, with accusations surrounding his relationships with other women. Four women, in particular, were often named in connection to the rumors. Let’s take a look at who they are and how their rocky journey from a power couple to a power family unfolded.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Relationship
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s story began in 2002 when they first started dating. Despite their huge fame, they’ve always kept their relationship relatively private. They worked hard to stay out of the spotlight, even as they became two of the biggest names in the world.
The couple stayed together for six years before they secretly tied the knot on April 4th, 2008. The wedding took place at Jay-Z’s Tribeca penthouse, and only their closest friends and family were invited.
One guest even described the ceremony as “deeply moving and spiritual.” After the wedding, Jay-Z kept it under wraps and didn’t want to tell anyone that they were married.
Three days later, when someone congratulated him, he laughed it off, pretending not to know what they were talking about.
However, Beyoncé wore a massive diamond ring during Jay-Z’s show in Atlanta a few days later, which became one of the first public confirmations of their marriage. As time went on, their connection became undeniable, and they expressed their bond through their music.
But fame often comes with complications, and their growing careers led to several controversies about their relationship. Rumors about Jay-Z’s alleged affairs with other famous women and his partying lifestyle started to strain their marriage.
The First Rumored Mistress: Claudia Scheelen
Celebrating some bday @CocoPhilips @Sandrine013 @JessieVdBrande pic.twitter.com/bCbyQpe8
— Claudia Scheelen (@ClaudiaScheelen) July 1, 2012
In November 2013, the rumors became more specific. The Mirror reported that Jay-Z was seen partying with model-turned-retail-manager, Claudia Scheelen, in Antwerp.
The pair was spotted together at Magic nightclub, where Jay-Z reportedly spent a huge sum on a bottle of Ace of Spades champagne worth £5,000. He even allegedly told her that the women in Antwerp were the most beautiful he had ever seen.
Close-Up shoot summer 16 pic.twitter.com/IXaZLUagvA
— Claudia Scheelen (@ClaudiaScheelen) April 27, 2016
Scheelen quickly denied the rumors, posting on social media, “I was shocked when I saw my name mentioned in an article about Jay Z! The tabloids have used me as a topic for something that didn’t happen!”
Even though she denied any romantic involvement with Jay-Z, the media frenzy continued, and trouble in paradise was only amplified the following year.
The Elevator Incident
In May 2014, a shocking incident put their relationship on even more public display. A video surfaced showing Beyoncé’s sister, Solange, attacking Jay-Z in an elevator after the Met Gala.
The footage, leaked by TMZ, showed Solange angrily kicking and swinging at the rapper while Beyoncé stood quietly beside them.
The video quickly went viral, causing a media storm. In a joint statement, the trio explained that it was a private family matter. “Families have problems, and we’re no different,” they said. Both Jay-Z and Solange apologized to each other, and they made it clear they had resolved the issue.
Just two months later, Beyoncé and Jay-Z went on their “On the Run” tour together. However, as their relationship appeared to heal, more rumors of infidelity emerged.
The Second Rumored Mistress: Casey Cohen
In June 2014, tabloids linked Jay-Z to reality TV star Casey Cohen, who appeared on “Princesses: Long Island.” Cohen denied the accusations, even hiring a lawyer to send a cease-and-desist letter to the tabloids, demanding a public apology and retraction.
She admitted to meeting Jay-Z and Beyoncé several times but insisted their interactions were purely professional, related to her work as a VIP hostess in New York City.
Despite Cohen’s denial, the rumors continued, and in July, new speculations about the state of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s marriage began to surface. Some sources claimed the couple was considering separating, although they hadn’t made a decision about divorce yet.
At the time, their “On the Run” tour was bringing in large sums of money, making a divorce more complicated. A source mentioned that they had been seen without their wedding rings, adding fuel to the fire.
Beyoncé’s Controversial Album: “Lemonade”
In 2016, Beyoncé dropped “Lemonade,” an album filled with emotional and powerful tracks, many of which seemed to reference the rumored infidelities in her marriage.
One of the most talked-about lines came from the song “Sorry,” in which Beyoncé sang, “He only want me when I’m not there, He better call Becky with the good hair.”
Fans and the media immediately began speculating about who “Becky” was. Two women, in particular, were mentioned frequently in connection with the mystery of “Becky.”
One of the women rumored to be “Becky” was fashion designer Rachel Roy. She had previously been linked to the couple in media reports, and things took a turn for the worse when she uploaded a now-deleted post on social media.
Roy wrote, “Good hair don’t care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies, or self truths, always. Live in the light #nodramaqueens.”
This sparked a firestorm of backlash from Beyoncé’s fans, and one user even wrote, “Rachel Roy just became the most hated woman in the world.”
As the situation escalated, Roy tried to diffuse it by addressing the situation on Twitter. She wrote, “I respect love, marriages, families, and strength. What shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone, no matter what, is bullying, of any kind.”
Despite this, Beyoncé never confirmed who “Becky” was, but the speculation around her continued to fuel the public’s obsession with the couple’s private life.
While the world watched Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s every move, they continued to weather the storms of rumors and accusations. Their relationship, filled with ups and downs, eventually grew stronger.
Through music, personal battles, and private moments, they proved that their bond was not just a product of fame but a testament to their resilience and love for each other.
It’s a story of overcoming difficulties, learning from mistakes, and growing together—one that reminds us that even the most powerful couples go through their challenges.
The Fourth Rumored Mistress: Rita Ora
Rita Ora, a popular British singer known for her music with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, was once caught up in the swirling rumors surrounding the infamous “Becky” controversy.
This all started when Rita wore a pin that said “Not Becky” at a 2016 Met Ball after-party. The timing made people suspect she might be involved with Jay-Z, especially after Beyoncé’s song “Sorry” mentioned a “Becky with the good hair.” But Rita was quick to clear things up.
During an interview with Vanity Fair later that year, Rita Ora denied any connection to Jay-Z, saying the pin was a gift from her friend Katy Perry. She explained that she had no romantic involvement with Jay-Z and expressed deep respect for both him and Beyoncé.
“Jay-Z is my inspiration and one of my idols—lyrically, musically, business-wise. I still look up to him and his wife every day. Beyoncé was one of my biggest idols growing up,” she said.
Despite the rumors and the controversy, Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s marriage held strong. In fact, they’ve managed to stay together, and their bond has only grown deeper over time.
The Marriage Survives
Although the rumors and pain from Jay-Z’s past mistakes made things difficult, Beyoncé and Jay-Z weathered the storm. In February 2017, Beyoncé announced that she was pregnant with twins, adding a new chapter to their family’s story.
Later that same year, Jay-Z released his album 4:44, where he made an emotional public apology. In the song “4:44,” Jay-Z admitted his faults, saying, “I apologize to all the women whom I toyed with your emotions, ‘Cause I was emotionless.”
That year, he also sat down with The New York Times and shared the emotional toll his actions had taken on his marriage. “Most people walk away… the hardest thing is seeing pain on someone’s face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself,” he explained.
“And so you walk away.” But despite all the pain, they stayed together, and publicly, things seemed to settle down between them.
In 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z surprised everyone with their joint album Everything Is Love, signaling that their love for each other was still strong. Their music together represented the unity they had fought for.
A United Front
Beyoncé continued to prove that her love for her family was unwavering. In 2022, she released Renaissance, an album dedicated to her family, including Jay-Z. The song “Plastic Off the Sofa” featured the lyrics, “And I know nobody’s perfect, so I’ll let you be, I’ll let you be,” reflecting the challenges they’d overcome.
Though their journey had been rocky, their relationship remained solid.
Even in 2024, Beyoncé ventured into country music, releasing a version of Dolly Parton’s iconic “Jolene.” The lyrics seemed to hint at the strength of her bond with her family: “You’re beautiful beyond compare, takes more than beauty and seductive stares, to come between a family and a happy man. […] I raised that man, I raised his kids, I know my man better than he knows himself.”
Whether it was a reference to the past or something new, the couple’s love and resilience were evident.
Despite all the rumors and public scrutiny, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have stood strong, raising their three kids together and continuing to create amazing music. Their eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, is now stepping into the spotlight as a rising star.
A Power Family
The Carter family showed just how united they are on December 26, 2024, during Beyoncé’s Christmas Day Halftime Show. It became a special family affair when 13-year-old Blue Ivy Carter joined her mom on stage for a performance that was nothing short of spectacular.
During the NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans, which was streamed on Netflix, Beyoncé performed for nearly 13 minutes, featuring songs from her latest album Cowboy Carter. Blue Ivy joined her for two tracks, “My House” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
Their performance was a lively spectacle, complete with a marching band and a choreographed routine with backup dancers.
Both mother and daughter looked stunning in matching outfits that reflected Beyoncé’s dazzling Western theme. Blue Ivy wore a white corset, pants with fringe lining, heeled boots, and a diamond necklace.
She completed her look with a red, white, and blue sash that read “Cowboy Carter.” Beyoncé, as always, turned heads in a silver-studded bodysuit, fringe-trimmed chaps, sparkling sequined boots, and a white cowboy hat.
The mother-daughter bond was unmistakable during the performance, but what stood out was the noticeable absence of Jay-Z. Still, the Carter family had been seen together days earlier at the premiere of Disney’s Mufasa, where they presented a united front.
It was clear that, despite all the struggles and the spotlight on their private lives, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and their children were still a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world.
