Rihanna's former publicist apologizes for spreading love triangle rumors about Jay Z and Beyoncé
Jonathan Hay, a former publicist for Rihanna, has been forced to issue an apology on Friday for spreading rumors that Jay Z was cheating on Beyoncé with Rihanna.
Jonathan Hay, a former publicist for Rihanna, has been forced to issue an apology on Friday for spreading rumors that Jay Z was cheating on Beyoncé with Rihanna.
The apology comes after the recent publication of Becoming Beyoncé: The Untold Story, which claims that the rumors Hay helped to spread affected the power couple so much that Jay Z and Beyoncé actually split for a year. At the time, in 2005, Hay had begun the rumors in order to attempt to give Rihanna’s debut single “Pon De Replay” more visibility.
“I apologized to her … this whole thing is very awkward,” Hay said in a statement to Beyoncé, after he had already apologized to Jay Z.
“The pr stunt that I did was out of desperation to help break Pon de Replay,” he said. “It was reckless and I didn’t think it was going to work. I was just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick.”
Hay also said that the book “couldn’t come at a worse time for me” and explained, “I’m currently releasing projects with my label Urban Hitchcock through Tidal, a company that is owned by Jay Z and Beyoncé… Hopefully this news hasn’t ruined that relationship for me.”
He also added, “I didn’t think it would be this big story. But now, seeing Beyoncé on the cover of this book and knowing that people are profiting from speculations and opinions about her really turns my stomach.”
“I’m ashamed that I’m even talking about this. I just want to put this rumor to rest once and for all.”
