Even though the Met Gala is renowned as a wild night in fashion, it also marks another occasion: the anniversary of Jay Z and Solange's elevator incident. On May 5, 2014, Solange attacked her sister Beyoncé's husband in an elevator and security footage caught the whole thing on tape. As seen in the video, Bey stands there as Solange lets loose. Still, it's two years later and fans don't know for sure: What really caused #ElevatorGate? When Bey released her Lemonade HBO special, fans were quick to look back at the elevator fight and speculate. Could it have been over the cheating rumors? Was Solange defending her sister? This is one of those things where as much as you can guess, no one knows for sure. But still, despite the uncertainty, that didn't stop fans on Twitter from essentially using the rumors that Jay Z may have cheated to explain — or even excuse — Solange lashing out.
At the time, all Solange, Beyoncé, and Jay Z released the following joint statement:
As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.
However, that statement doesn't really give a ton of insight. It's more of an explanation of how they feel that sweeps things under the rug.
Ever since the 2014 Met Gala, the cause of the fight has been a source of speculation. But then, after watching Lemonade, tweets appeared where fans said they finally understood why Solange went after Jay. But do they, though? Based on the lyrics and accompanying videos, fans have widely believed that Jay Z cheated on Beyoncé, but since nothing has been confirmed, this is an interpretation and nothing more than a rumor.
However, if the cheating rumors are actually true and Solange was defending her sister, would that make it OK? I'm going to have to say a big fat no. I don't think that violence is the answer regardless. No matter what compelled Solange to physically attack Jay Z, in all likelihood, there is no acceptable explanation or excuse. Granted, I don't know the reason and probably never will.
Another connection between the Lemonade talk today and the elevator incident is that Rachel Roy's name occasionally pops up. At the time of the elevator fight, a source told People, "Solange was provoked by Rachel," who was rumored to be the woman Jay Z allegedly cheated with. Still, if that's why Solange attacked Jay, it's as unfair as all of the backlash Roy has received since Lemonade was released. (Roy is believed to be the "Becky with the good hair" referenced in Bey's "Sorry" lyrics, a connection that she has outright denied.)
Another source told People at the time, "Jay said something inappropriate to Beyoncé and Solange, and she snapped. When they got in the elevator, it escalated quickly the way family tensions can. It got exceptionally heated the way family moments can." It sounds like there are plenty of possible reasons behind the brawl.
Still, the moral of the story here is that the origins of #ElevatorGate remain unknown. Fans can speculate all they want, but it looks like all Jay Z, Bey, and Solange will ever say is in that statement alone. Hopefully,t his year's Met Gala is drama-free.
Bustle has reached out to reps for Beyoncé and Jay Z regarding the cheating rumors, but has not yet heard back.
