Jay Z emerges for first time since wild rumours of Beyonce split amid Rihanna affair... as her ex-publicist admits making it all up to promote her debut single
Jay Z has emerged for the first time since the shocking claim he split from Beyonce in 2005 because of a rumour he had an affair with Rihanna when she was just 17.
The 45-year-old looked completely untroubled as he arrived for an interview at New York's 92Y on Friday, despite the storm that was brewing over his past love life.
The rap mogul arrived with Usher, Harry Belafonte and Soledad O'Brien to discuss Breaking the Chains of Social Injustice.
Problems: Jay Z emerged for the first time on Friday since the shocking claim he split from Beyonce in 2005 because of a rumour he had an affair with Rihanna when she was just 17
One day earlier it was reported that the 99 Problems hitmaker had split from his then-girlfriend of five years Beyonce over a rumour he was having an affair with Rihanna.
The astonishing claim came in a new unauthorized biography by best-selling writer J Randy Taraborrelli titled Becoming Beyoncé: The Untold Story.
And on Friday the person who started the rumour - Rihanna's former publicist Jonathan Hay - owned up, claiming he did it to try promote the then 17-year-old's debut single Pon The Replay.
Cool: The 45-year-old looked completely untroubled as he arrived for an interview at New York's 92Y on Friday, despite the storm that was brewing over his past love life
Subject of debate: The astonishing claim came in a new unauthorized biography by best-selling writer J Randy Taraborrelli titled Becoming Beyoncé: The Untold Story
'I apologized to [Beyonce],' he told the Daily News, 'this whole thing is very awkward.
'I was blindsided by the news of Becoming Beyoncé coming out and it couldn't come at a worse time for me.
'The pr stunt that I did was out of desperation to help break Pon de Replay, he admitted. '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.
Chat: The rap mogul arrived with Usher, Harry Belafonte and Soledad O'Brien to discuss Breaking the Chains of Social Injustice
Damaged: According to the book, Beyoncé 'wasn't sure what to make of the situation' despite the story being a concocted one, and it split the power couple for year, unknown to the rest of the world
'I didn't think it would be this big story,' he continued. '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.'
Despite plainly admitting he made up a story to promote his client's music, Hey's confession conveniently coincides with the release of his own music - under the Beyonce and Jay Z-owned Tidal streaming service.
My bad: On Friday the person who started the rumour - Rihanna's former publicist Jonathan Hay - owned up, claiming he did it to try promote the then 17-year-old's debut single Pon The Replay
'Hopefully this news hasn't ruined that relationship for me,' he added.
According to the book, Beyoncé 'wasn't sure what to make of the situation' despite the story being a concocted one, and it split the power couple for year, unknown to the rest of the world
It has led many to revisit the notorious elevator spat between Beyoncé's sister Solange and Jay Z, questioning whether Rihanna really was the root of their dispute.
Split: According to the theory it was in 2005, around the time this picture was taken and Rihanna, then 17, released her debut single. At the time, Jay Z was 35 years old and Beyoncé was 24
Ordeal: It has led many to revisit the notorious elevator spat (pictured) between Beyoncé's sister Solange and Jay Z, questioning whether Rihanna really was the root of their dispute
Beyoncé, 34, and Jay Z, 45, are now married with a three-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.
But they have battled through a lot to reach this point, Taraborrelli told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday.
Describing the alleged split, he said: 'Beyoncé didn't know what to make of this, and it actually ended up breaking them up for a time.
Under his wing: Jay Z took on Rihanna as his protegée when she was 17 and mastered the release of her debut single Pon De Replay. The pair have remained close throughout the decade since. They are pictured together here in 2010
Infamous night: The May 2014 incident in the elevator involving a physical altercation between Beyoncé's sister Solange and Jay is touched on in the unauthorised biography
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