A social media post by global superstar Rihanna has triggered a fresh wave of online tension between fans of South African singer Tyla and Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr, following their appearances at the 2026 Met Gala.
The controversy began after clips from the high-profile fashion event went viral, showing Tyla standing close to Rihanna while the Barbadian singer appeared engaged in a separate conversation. The brief moment quickly fuelled speculation online, with some social media users claiming Tyla was deliberately overlooked.
The situation escalated further when Rihanna later shared a video on her social platforms featuring Ayra Starr’s track “Who’s Dat Girl” as background music. Many fans interpreted the post as a subtle dig, further intensifying the already heated online debate.
Despite the growing noise on social media, both Tyla and Ayra Starr have previously dismissed any suggestion of rivalry or tension between them.
Tyla addressed the Met Gala speculation in a TikTok response, insisting there was no awkward encounter with Rihanna and clarifying that she simply chose not to interrupt the conversation.
“Everyone knows I love RiRi. So this time, I was waiting for my car and she was right there but she looked busy, so I stayed back,” she explained.
She also recalled a previous meeting with the global star, describing it as casual and light-hearted despite fans later overanalysing it.
“So I met her last year and she was cool. I went up to her and she was like, ‘Hey, my baby daddy’s calling me,’ and then she left. I felt awkward,” Tyla added.
Ayra Starr has also consistently pushed back against attempts to create friction between female artistes, stressing mutual respect in the industry.
“Tyla is my homegirl, that’s my G,” she said in an earlier interview while criticising comparisons between women in music.
However, Rihanna’s post has reignited fan rivalry across social media platforms, with X (formerly Twitter) users trading heated opinions over what they believe the clip and song selection represented.
One user wrote, “Using Ayra Starr’s song after all the Tyla drama? Rihanna definitely knew what she was doing.”
Another countered, “This is why stan wars never end. One background song and the internet has created a whole movie.”
Others dismissed the controversy entirely, arguing that fans were reading too much into harmless moments from the event.
“Rihanna no even talk anything but internet don already write full script,” a user posted.
Despite repeated attempts by the artistes to discourage comparisons, online fan communities across Nigeria and South Africa continue to fuel debates over influence, global recognition, and dominance in Afrobeats and Amapiano culture.
