Rita Ora Says Beyoncé Was Her ‘Protector’ Amid Rumors That She Was ‘Becky with the Good Hair’

Rita Ora, who has been married to Taika Waititi since 2022, was once at the center of rampant speculation that she had an affair with the "16 Carriages" singer's husband following the release of her album "Lemonade."

Rita Ora opened up about her experience during an appearance on the "Begin Again with Davina McCall" podcast. In 2016, the "Body on Me" singer became the focus of a fan-made controversy involving a song off of "Lemonade."

The track "Sorry," in which Beyoncé sings about "Becky with the good hair," was perceived to reference Jay-Z's alleged affairs. Fans assumed that Rita was the Becky in question, while others purported it was Gwyneth Paltrow or even Rachel Roy.

"It wasn't real, of course not, absolutely no," she told Davina during the June 26 episode. "I wish I had good hair. That's why I've got this hair care line out, which has helped grow my hair out because my hair has been damaged since 2013 from all the styling and bleaching."

Rita launched her hair care brand, TYPEBEA, in April 2024. "But no, yeah, none of that was real. It was the first time I experienced what it means to be in a messy situation," she said of the rumors, which she, Gwyneth, and Rachel all denied at the time.

"I was just so confused. And I was like, 'Why is this happening to me? What have I done?'" she added. Behind closed doors, however, Rita said Beyoncé was like her "fairy godmother."

"She was my protector. That's what's insane because there was nothing but love," she shared. Rita said she was "genuinely upset" as she considered Beyoncé to be "her big sister." That same year, the pair took a photo together at the 2016 Met Gala.

"When we saw each other at the Met Gala we took a selfie and it was gone. Because there was never anything there in the first place," Rita said, adding that she and Beyoncé still see each other and remain on good terms.