A clip from the 2026 Met Gala showing Tyla and Rihanna in close proximity without interacting went viral almost immediately, with many online interpreting it as Rihanna snubbing the South African artist. Tyla has since addressed the moment directly, offering context that tells a different story.
In a video posted after the event, Tyla explained that she had met Rihanna the previous year but felt their encounter was cut short in a way that left her uncertain of how to read the interaction. “I went up to her and was like, ‘Oh, hey,’ and she was like, ‘Hey — my baby daddy is calling me,’ and then she left,” Tyla recounted. “I felt awkward.”
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A deliberate decision, not a snub
At this year’s Met Gala, when she found herself near Rihanna again while waiting for her car, Tyla made a conscious choice not to approach her. “I didn’t want to go up to her because I thought she was busy — the last time she was busy,” she said. “I want, if we do end up speaking ever, I want it to be calm so we both can vibe and talk nicely.”
It is, in short, the story of someone reading a social situation carefully and choosing not to force a moment rather than any kind of falling out. The internet drew its own conclusions first — Tyla took the time to offer a more grounded one.
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