Armchair analysts, speculate away: A scowling Solange, Jay Z rubbing his cheek in bemusement and, most incongruously, Beyoncé wearing a Mona Lisa-esque smile © Splash News/Splash News/Corbis
The Lift Incident has begat its first “real” ramification: Solange has reportedly expunged all evidence of mega-star sis Beyoncé from her life (at least as curated by Instagram).
For those who’ve been off the grid the past day, here’s all you need to know: Online gossip rag TMZ released elevator surveillance footage apparently showing a post-Met Gala Solange Knowles going absolutely berserk on her brother-in-law (that’ll be Jay Z, but if you don’t know that already this story probably isn’t for you).
Standing ringside to this sad spectacle was a bizarrely placid Beyoncé, who can be seen adjusting the hem of her Givenchy Couture gown at several points in the reel.
Aside: Speaking of fashion, the “weapon” of choice for Solange has been ID-ed as gold Stuart Weitzman Nudist stiletto sandals; resist the temptation to don the same model for your next family function.
Not surprisingly, pop culture pundits the world over have been having a field day with this unfiltered glimpse into the notoriously private life of Queen Bey and her consorts. (And even then, her preternatural composure throughout the entire ordeal has been touted by catty commentators as yet more evidence that the woman is a Stepford Wife-esque fembot.)
But let’s circle back to Instagram, which has emerged as a vital virtual vein for tapping into the psyche of public personalities. Eagle-eyed observers have noted that Solange (or a handler managing her account) has, as previously mentioned, deleted all shots save one of her famous sister. (Sample troll comment left on said picture: “No more take it to the streets, it’s take it to the elevator!”)
If one were to read the tea leaves from Solange’s pointed move on Instagram, one can conclude (albeit tentatively) that alas, all sibling solidarity has been lost.
UPDATE: There are at least two more photographs of her big sis on Solange's Instagram account ... although that doesn't change the gist of our lament: The two women's relationship must have been substantially affected by this fiasco.
We can only speak for ourselves when we say that it’s a sad turn of affairs – we’ve always thought the two ladies had a great dynamic, with Beyoncé being the mainstream moneymaker and her little sister occupying a comfortable niche in the indie R&B scene.
As for what sparked off the altercation, well, never has the “why” from the five Ws of entertainment journalism been so compellingly absent.
One can turn to any number of ghoulish, gutter-level blogs for feverish speculation on #WhatJayZSaidToSolange– yes, hashtags are most definitely a thing, now – but given Beyoncé’s track record for stone-cold secrecy, we’re fairly confident no concrete statement will emerge from the horse’s mouth anytime soon.
Reports are emerging that the row was ignited by Solange being upset with Jay Z’s intention to attend an after-party hosted by Rihanna, although that nugget in itself nudges us down another intriguing rabbit-hole: What’s Solange’s beef with Riri?
Indeed, what this incident does raise are questions upon questions: Should the public be privy to what is, to all intents and purposes, a private affair? Would the knife-stabbing Jay Z of the ‘90s be as stoic in not retaliating? Is this the beginning of the end of the Beyoncé-Jay-Z dynasty?