What Was the Beef Between Keri Hilson and Beyoncé? Looking Back on Their Rumored Feud

In 2009, rumours swirled about a feud between R&B singers Keri Hilson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Over a decade later, Keri has clarified there is no bad blood between the two artists. But what exactly happened to spark gossip of beef between the talented musicians?

The Infamous “Turnin’ Me On” Remix

The drama began when Keri Hilson released a remix of her hit single “Turnin’ Me On” in 2009. The original track, which featured Lil Wayne, was already a success. But it was the remix lyrics that caught listener’s attention.

In the remix, which added artist T-Pain, Keri sings the line: “Your vision cloudy if you think that you da best, You can dance, she can sing, but need to move it to the left”.

Many fans interpreted this as a direct dig at Beyoncé. The lyrics seemed to reference Bey’s signature dance abilities and Keri telling her to “move it to the left” was seen as dismissive.

The shade seemed to continue with the lyrics:

“She need to go have some babies, she need to sit down, she fake, them other chicks ain’t even worth talkin’ bout.”

Again, listeners felt Keri was insulting Beyoncé by telling her to “go have some babies” and calling her “fake.”

Perceived Reaction from Beyoncé

Fans thought Beyoncé responded to the “diss track” during her acclaimed 2011 Glastonbury Festival performance. While singing her hit “Irreplaceable,” Bey switched up the lyrics to:

“To the left, to the left / To the left, to the left / To the left, to the left / Everything you own in the box to the left.”

Many viewers saw this as a deliberate message to Keri given the repeated phrase “to the left.”

Beyoncé also released the music video for her song “Diva” in 2009, just months after Keri’s remix. In the video, Beyoncé sings the lyric “A diva is a female version of a hustler” while a lookalike of Keri wears a fur coat. Fans saw it as another response to the perceived feud.

Keri Hilson’s Response

Keri Hilson maintained the lyrics were not actually about Beyoncé. She explained they were just general lines about perseverance through hardship.

But she understood how fans misinterpreted them to be about Bey. During a radio interview with Atlanta’s V-103 in 2009 soon after the controversy, Keri said:

“It’s absurd, I’m not jealous of anybody’s career. I’m a fan of Beyoncé’s…I’m not trying to start any controversy or say that I’m trying to battle anybody.”

She just wanted to set the record straight that there was no real beef between them.

Where Keri and Beyoncé Stand Now

Over a decade later, Keri again clarified there is no bad blood with Queen Bey. In a 2022 Instagram interview, she stated:

“She actually has introduced herself. It was a gracious moment. I appreciated it. I feel like she understood what happened, what had transpired and there was a bit of healing in that moment when we met.”

Keri said she hopes to even collaborate with Beyoncé someday, saying:

“It would be a very fun experience to do that if she were open. I do feel like she understood what that was all about. She’s amazing. I’ve always felt that way. That’s the truth of the matter.”

It’s nice to officially put the feud rumours to bed. Clearly these two talented artists have nothing but mutual respect and admiration for each other’s phenomenal careers.

At the end of the day, it seems the perceived beef was simply a misunderstanding between two empowered female forces in the music industry. While fans love the drama, it’s good to know Keri Hilson and Beyoncé harbor no bad feelings toward each other.

Lessons Learned

The saga provides some valuable lessons:

• Don’t automatically assume songs are about particular people without proof. Lyrics can be broadly interpreted.

• Artists don’t always write their own lyrics. Songwriters craft lines from various inspirations.

• Feuds generate buzz, but real beefs are rare. Most perceived conflicts are exaggerated.

• Don’t spread rumours without hearing both sides. There are two sides to every story.

• Time often resolves disputes once passions cool. Bridges can still be built.

The lesson is to not make assumptions. What matters is the two musicians respect each other and put rumours to rest. At the end of the day, talent recognizes talent.