Tyla explains awkward Rihanna interaction at Met Gala

South African singer Tyla has moved to clear the air after a short Met Gala 2026 interaction with Rihanna sparked online speculation of a possible snub.

A viral clip from the event showed Tyla standing slightly back as Rihanna moved through a crowded room, a moment that quickly fuelled debate online.

But Tyla in instagram post on Thurday,May7,2026 says what people saw wasn’t tension it was hesitation shaped by a past encounter.

First meeting confusion

Tyla recalled that her first interaction with Rihanna at another event last year was brief and slightly awkward, not because of conflict, but timing.

“I went up to her like, ‘Oh hey,’ and she was like, ‘Hey,’” Tyla explained. “Then she said, ‘My baby daddy’s calling me,’ and she left. And I was like, oh… maybe she was busy.”

She said the moment left her feeling unsure rather than offended.

“I felt awkward. I didn’t even know how to say hi properly after that,” she added.

Why she stayed back

That earlier experience, Tyla explained, directly influenced how she behaved at the Met Gala.

Seeing Rihanna again in another busy environment, she chose not to immediately approach her.

“If I feel like someone’s busy, I don’t go up,” she said. “So this time I was waiting for my car and she was right there… and I didn’t want to go up because I felt like she was busy.”

Tyla said she wanted any future conversation to happen naturally, without pressure or interruptions.

“When we do speak, if we ever do, I want it to be calm so we can just vibe and talk nicely,” she said.

Tyla made it clear there is no bad blood between them. She expressed admiration for Rihanna and emphasized that her decision at the Met Gala was about waiting for the right moment, not reacting to any personal issue.

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