Singer Rita Ora recently shared a collection of summer highlights on social media, including photos of herself in a sequin bikini, with her husband Taika Waititi, and enjoying nights out and travel. The post, dated September 1, was accompanied by the caption, "Summer please don't leave yet."
"Becky" Speculation Revisited
The summer recap comes after Ora once again addressed persistent rumors connecting her to the 2016 Beyoncé track "Sorry," from the album Lemonade. The song's lyrics, "You only want me when I'm not there/You better call Becky with the good hair," fueled speculation that "Becky" was a reference to infidelity involving Jay-Z. Ora's name circulated in connection with these rumors, particularly after she posted a Snapchat featuring lemon-print lingerie and a necklace with the letter 'J', and was later seen wearing a "Not Becky" pin at a Met Gala after-party.
Ora has consistently denied these allegations. In her recent comments, she expressed a desire to identify the origin of the "Becky drama," stating, "It's always woman pitted against woman and you can be sure neither of us had anything to gain."
In 2016, shortly after the Lemonade album's release, Ora posted a selfie with Beyoncé, captioned "Family," which some interpreted as an attempt to quell the rumors. She later told The Times that navigating the early days of social media could be overwhelming, leading to widespread speculation. "You could be minding your own business then wake up one morning and find out the whole world was on your case," she said.
Clarifying Past Incidents
During a 2022 interview with Louis Theroux, Ora clarified her past actions, explaining the significance of the lemon-print lingerie and the 'J' necklace. She stated the 'J' was actually an 'R' that appeared reversed, and that the lemon-themed attire was a coincidence related to her collaboration with the underwear company Tezenis. "No, it had nothing [to do with it]," Ora said regarding the lemon shoot's connection to Beyoncé's album. "No, that was my own design with an underwear company called Tezenis that I was working with."
Ora also mentioned that Katy Perry had given her a humorous "Not Becky" badge. She emphasized the need to approach such situations with perspective, stating, "This is what I mean, man - a pinch of salt - you've got to take things with a pinch of salt. And that's what's insane."
Ora has expressed frustration with the media's focus on her personal life, stating in interviews that she believes her career and other accomplishments are often overlooked. "It's interesting 'cause I feel like everyone is very interested in my personal life, like everything else is not worthy enough," Ora said. "Which, sometimes, is frustrating because I have also got a lot of credentials to sustain my respect."
In 2016, Ora pushed back against the rumors, calling the accusations "incredibly rude and disrespectful to women in general (when) we get accused of something that's basically against the important part - the music."