Critics and conspiracy theorists are not letting Jay-Z catch a break amid his sexual assault drama. The Hip-Hop icon was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside his longtime pal, the incarcerated music mogul Diddy. He has vehemently denied the claims, calling it a blackmail scheme while refusing to hide from the public.
Jay-Z made his first public appearance since the drama began at the Mufasa movie premiere on Monday night. The event was meant to be his wife and daughter’s big moment, but he showed up to support them. Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, and the Knowles family’s matriarch, Tina Knowles, were all smiles beside the Roc Nation founder.
The group posed together with Jay-Z as though to show they were united and fully believed in his innocence. The touching family appearance was unexpected as many speculated if Beyoncé and Blue Ivy would attend the premiere. The mother and daughter were initially expected to appear, but the rapper’s scandal sparked concerns about their attendance.
Contrary to what many expected, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy confidently strutted down the red carpet with Jay-Z. The Cowboy Carter singer reprised her role as Queen Nala from 2019’s live-action Lion King movie in the sequel. Meanwhile, Blue Ivy made her feature film debut as Simba’s daughter, Princess Kiara, per TMZ. Given that it was a big night for the mother and daughter, some fans were displeased by Jay-Z’s appearance.
Fans Slam Jay-Z for Attending Beyoncé and Blue Ivy’s Mufasa Premiere
Displeased fans vehemently called out Jay-Z for using his wife and daughter as a publicity stunt. These critics aired their conspiracy theories on X, with one claiming his appearance stemmed from his lawyer’s advice. They argued that the rapper had been MIA since Diddy’s arrest and indictment. However, he strategically appeared with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy after being named in a rape lawsuit.
Another echoed similar sentiments, noting Beyoncé’s smile looked forced while Jay-Z seemed “nervous.” A third dubbed the Hip-Hop mogul “The Lying King,” while a fourth advised him to “lay low.” The criticism continued with an X user slamming Jay-Z for ruining Beyoncé and Blue Ivy’s moment, writing:
“Why is he selfishly tainting her time on the red carpet with his presence and troubles…?”
However, not everyone was a critic, with some fans taking an “innocent until proven guilty” stance. A supporter stressed that Jay-Z attending the premiere with his family was the right move instead of hiding. They noted that if he stayed away, people would have seen his absence as an admission of guilt.
We recently covered that Jay-Z sparked guilty theories after he moved to dismiss the sexual assault lawsuit against him. He argued that the alleged victim’s lawyer tried to extort him before revealing his identity in the case. On that note, he asked the court to reveal the woman’s identity or toss the allegations. His demands did not sit right with some fans, who criticized him for trying to intimidate the plaintiff.
Given Jay-Z’s recent appearance with his family, it is safe to say that they will be standing behind him. However, will their love and support be enough to drown out the public’s criticisms?
