New details have emerged regarding the cause of the infamous 2014 elevator confrontation between Jay Z and Solange Knowles, a viral incident that captivated the public for years.
According to fashion designer Oscar G. Lopez, who created Rachel Roy’s gown for the Met Gala that year, the altercation may have originated from a seemingly minor exchange. Lopez told the Daily Mail that Jay Z complimented Roy on her dress, an act that reportedly irritated Beyoncé’s sister, Solange.
“I think that Jay-Z complimented [Roy] about the gown, and Beyonce’s sister felt that it was not proper, so it was a kind of drama there,” Lopez stated.
Later that night, security footage leaked showing Solange physically attacking Jay Z inside an elevator, with a silent Beyoncé present. The video instantly became a global sensation, sparking endless speculation about its cause, with contemporary reports suggesting Solange had argued with Rachel Roy earlier in the evening.
Fashion designer breaks silence on what really sparked Jay-Z and Solange Knowles' infamous elevator fight https://t.co/9cmtYAQEJE
— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) December 4, 2025Lopez recalled the bizarre aftermath for his design, noting, “The dress was all over the news. That was so funny. Any press is good press.” He also defended Roy’s character, describing her as a “sweetheart” and dismissing persistent rumours of an affair with Jay Z as “silly.” He highlighted her professional history, noting that she had worked at Rocawear after marrying Jay Z’s former partner, Damon Dash.
EXCLUSIVE! Fashion designer Oscar G. Lopez claimed that Beyoncé's sister Solange's anger, from the infamous elevator fight, stemmed from what she assumed was Jay-Z's alleged affair with Rachel Roy!
Jay Z complimented Rachel's dress and all hell broke loose 😭 https://t.co/6XF5HtScRU pic.twitter.com/JdS9d839DE
— ˢᴸᴱᴱᶻᴱ𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘫 (@sleezeSTAN) December 4, 2025The drama reverberated through pop culture. In 2016, Beyoncé’s lyric “Becky with the good hair” in her song “Sorry” was widely interpreted as a reference to Roy. Jay Z later alluded to past infidelities on his 2017 track “Family Feud.”
Despite the very public fallout, Jay Z and Solange issued a joint statement confirming they had apologised and resolved their differences privately, emphasising their commitment to moving forward as a united family.
