Posted by Chinenye on Fri 08th May, 2026 - tori.ng
Online tensions reignited after the 2026 Met Gala when a viral clip showed Tyla briefly near Rihanna, sparking speculation among fans about an awkward exchange.
(Rihana. Photo credit: forbes)
After the 2026 Met Gala, Rihanna's social media post caused Tyla and Ayra Starr's fans to argue online once more.
After videos from the Met Gala surfaced online, showing Tyla standing near Rihanna while the Barbadian actress seemed to be involved in another conversation, the issue gained traction. Fans then began to speculate about the incident, with some saying Rihanna purposefully disregarded Tyla.
The situation worsened when Rihanna later posted a video with Ayra Starr's song "Who's Dat Girl" playing in the background. Many social media users took this as a subtle jab at the South African singer.
Vanguard remembers that both singers have always refuted reports of animosity between them, despite the cacophony on social media.
In an earlier TikTok exchange, Tyla addressed the widely shared Met Gala event and insisted that she and Rihanna were not at odds.
I adore RiRi, as everyone knows. This time, she was right there while I was waiting for my car, but she appeared to be busy, so I stayed behind," Tyla said.
The artist from South Africa also thought back to a previous meeting with Rihanna, remembering an uncomfortable yet innocuous exchange.
She was amazing when I first met her last year. When I approached her, she said, "Hey, my baby daddy's calling me," before walking away. I was uncomfortable," she added.
Additionally, Ayra Starr has already thwarted fan attempts to incite conflict between the two artists.
In a previous interview, the Nigerian singer criticized the frequent comparisons between women in music, saying, "Tyla is my homegirl, that's my G."
However, as fans from both sides commented on the trending moment, a number of replies quickly swamped X, formerly Twitter.
"Using Ayra Starr's song after all the Tyla drama?" commented @lola_vibez. Rihanna was undoubtedly skilled at what she did.
@culturetalks247, another user, wrote, "This is why stan wars never end." The internet and a single background song have produced an entire film.
"Rihanna doesn't even say anything, but the internet has already written a full script," tweeted @bigTuna_01. Na wa for una.
In the meantime, @NaijaCruiseHQ wrote, "Tyla fans go dey vex tire." RiRi simply uses the Ayra tune "finish everywhere scatter."
Fan communities in South Africa and Nigeria continue to feed contentious online discussions about streaming figures, international recognition, and impact in Afrobeats and Amapiano music, despite both artists' attempts to defuse the situation.