By Tosyn Bucknor
Recently, a video surfaced with people now identified as Jay Z, Beyonce and Solange. There was also another man, thought to be a bodyguard, in said video. The video, which contained recordings from an elevator, showed Solange attacking Jay Z while the latter tried to defend himself and the bodyguard tried to restrain her.
Since then, there have been speculations as to what could have happened. Jay Z, Solange and Beyonce have also released a statement saying all families have disagreements and that is all that was.
Within hours of the video coming out, there were various memes and hashtags including, ‘What Jay said to Solange‘. It has also sparked a lot of debate as to double standards in society and so on.
Here are my other nines from the incident!
1. Why did Beyonce not react?: After getting over the initial shock of Solange attacking Jay Z, you then focus on the one thing that had been niggling at the back of your mind: ‘Why Beyonce no react na?‘
The theories I have heard vary from, she knew there was a camera there and didn’t want to be seen doing anything, to, she didn’t want to ruin her dress, to, this is probably not the first time it had happened so she was used to it…
2. Which other rappers would have reacted the way Jay Z did?: My friend brought this up and we started racking our brain. We all agreed Kanye West would have some kind of reaction (not hit Khloe or Kourtney back), and I think Eminem too could have. But imagine if it were a Nigerian rapper…
3. Why did Solange get taken to the cleaners?: The memes were so mean to Solange. I mean, from calling her a gutter child, to making fun of her music career, it was cruel. I was confused. Why was she getting so much hate? Is she not entitled to lose her cool from time to time? I mean, something must have happened to make her go off like that. Right?
4. How come we don’t ask, #WhatDidTheBatteredGirlDo?: And that is where the prejudice begins. Guy hits a girl, no one asks, ‘But what did she do?‘, they immediately turn on the guy. And yet, some will have you believe there can be valid reasons for a guy hitting a woman like his wife or her sister.
5. So why is it okay for a girl to hit a guy but not the other way round?: Is it though? I have not seen a single person say what Solange did was right. What they have been quick to do though is try to justify her actions.
6. Society’s double standards: We do not treat men and women the same way, ever, at all, never. Guy hits a girl and he is a monster. Girl hits a guy and she was emotional. Guy cheats on girl and it was physical. Girl cheats on guy and it was emotional. Guy dates several women and he is a stud. Girl dates several guys and she is a slut. Society’s double standards range from issues of gender to race and to class.
7. What would I have done?: I bet you all have put yourself in that situation. If I were Jay Z (but why would anyone want to attack me???), I would probably have not retaliated and just tried to defend myself. If I were Beyonce, I would definitely have done something; from trying to restrain her to standing in between them. And if I were Solange? Well, my bark is always worse than my bite. As they say in Yoruba, ‘mi ki n koja aye mi’ (I don’t go past my boundary).
8. What happens next?: Every rapper and their granny releases a song dissing Jay Z, Solange releases a song, and Beyonce keeps acting like it is a scene from Men in Black, ‘Elevator? What Elevator?‘
9. #BringBackOurGirls: After all is said and done, only one thing matters: over 200 girls were reported to have been abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno state, four weeks ago. We want them back, safe and sound.
