Tyla has responded to viral reactions over a backstage clip from the 2026 Met Gala involving her brief encounter with her idol Rihanna, clarifying that there was no awkwardness or disrespect during their exchange.
In a TikTok video shared after the event, the South African singer explained what happened when she approached Rihanna during the busy night, saying the interaction was cut short because the superstar was preoccupied.
“She was cool… I think she was occupied. I went up to her and was like, ‘Oh, hey, you know…’ and she was like, ‘Hey, um — my baby daddy is calling me,’ and then she left,” she said.
Tyla added that she chose not to approach Rihanna again later in the evening when their paths crossed once more, noting she didn’t want to interrupt her.
“This time, yeah, I don’t want to go up because I felt like she was busy, you know what I mean,” she explained. “The last time she was busy. So I want it to be like calm so we both can just vibe and talk nicely.”
She also mentioned that this wasn’t their first meeting, revealing that they had previously crossed paths at the 2025 Met Gala, where she described Rihanna as “cool” but similarly occupied.
Opening the clip, Tyla emphasized her admiration for the global star, saying, “I look crazy right now, but I just woke up. My voice is raspy. Basically, everyone knows I love Ri.”
