JAY-Z and Solange's Infamous Elevator Fight: Everything That’s Been Said

What Happened

Surveillance video showed Solange and JAY-Z arguing as Beyoncé witnessed the incident in an elevator following a 2014 Met Gala afterparty. The footage, captured inside The Standard, High Line in New York City on May 5, showed the “Losing You” singer yelling at the rapper before wildly hitting and kicking him as a man who seemed to be a security guard tried to restrain her. At one point, Beyoncé even stood between her husband and sister. The widely circulated surveillance video was first obtained and released by TMZ on May 12.

"Solange Was Provoked"

A source told PEOPLE that Solange had been “provoked” by fashion designer Rachel Roy, whom she had a run-in with earlier that evening.

"Toward the end of the night, Jay said something inappropriate to Beyoncé and Solange, and [Solange] snapped," the insider revealed. "When they got in the elevator, it escalated quickly the way family tensions can. It got exceptionally heated the way family moments can."

The source added, "Solange is super protective of Beyoncé."

Breaking Their Silence

On May 15, 2014, the trio released a joint statement addressing the drama.

"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," they said in a statement to the Associated Press. "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."

The statement continued: "The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. At the end of the day, families have problems, and we're no different. We love each other, and above all, we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same."

We Are "All Good"

Solange cleared the air about the altercation with Lucky magazine in an August 2014 cover story.

"What's important is that my family and I are all good," the singer said. "What we had to say collectively was in the statement that we put out, and we all feel at peace with that."

Fueling the Fire

Eight years later, the “16 Carriages” recording artist seemingly alluded to the incident again on her Grammy-winning album Renaissance, which features the serene track “Cozy.” In the song, Beyoncé sings: “Confident, damn, she lethal / Might I suggest you don't f--- with my sis / 'Cause she comfortable.”

The verse not only sees Beyoncé potentially shouting out Solange but also warns of just how protective her sister is of her. This speculation has also been cosigned by Bey Hivers, who wrote a detailed Genius annotation suggesting the lyrics reference the elevator fight.

Beyoncé even wrote “Might I suggest you don’t f--- with my sis” at the end of an October 2022 Instagram tribute to her sister after the debut of Solange’s composition for the New York City Ballet.

JAY-Z Takes Responsibility

Following his wife's footsteps, JAY-Z appeared to call out the famous footage in his song "Kill JAY-Z" from his 2017 album, 4:44.

"You egged Solange on / Knowin' all along, all you had to say you was wrong,” he raps in one verse. In another, he says: “But you gotta do better, boy, you owe it to Blue / You had no father, you had the armor / But you got a daughter, gotta get softer."

"That's My Sister"

JAY-Z shared in a 2017 interview with Rap Radar hosts Elliott Wilson and Brian "B.Dot" Miller that the incident was far in the past for the family.

"We've always had a great relationship. … We had one disagreement, ever. Before and after, we've been cool," JAY-Z said, referring to Solange. "She's like my sister. I will protect her. That's my sister, not my sister-in-law. My sister. Period."