A Timeline of Beyoncé’s Lemonade Debacle from Debut to Accusations

#1. 18 Lemonade Lyrics That Seem To Confirm Jay Z Cheated On Beyoncé

Image: HBO

Image: HBO

As Beyoncé’s Lemonade special unfolded on HBO Saturday night, it became clear that Beyoncé was mad at someone. A lot of people thought it might be Jay Z, and that the special would end with the couple announcing their divorce. Spoiler alert — they reconciled by the end, but it’s clear there was some drama along the way. While some viewers thought Bey’s lyrics were directed at her father, Mathew Knowles, others thought they served to confirm rumours that Jay cheated on Beyoncé at some point (never forget the elevator). Below, 18 lyrics that seem to support the latter theory.

1. You can taste the dishonesty / It’s on your breath as you pass it off so cavalier. (“Pray You Catch Me”)

2. Can’t you see there’s no other man above you / What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you. (“Hold Up”)

3. Something don’t feel right because it ain’t right, especially coming up after midnight / I smell your secrets and I’m not too perfect to ever feel this worthless / How did it come down to this, going through your call list? / I don’t wanna lose my pride but I’ma f*ck me up a bitch. (“Hold Up”)

4. What’s worse, looking jealous or crazy? Jealous or crazy? / More like walked all over lately, walked all over lately, I’d rather be crazy. (“Hold Up”)

5. It’s such a shame, you let this good love go to waste. (“Hold Up”)

6. Who the f*ck do you think I am? You ain’t married to no average bitch, boy. (“Don’t Hurt Yourself”)

7. I am the dragon breathing fire / Beautiful man, I’m the lion / Beautiful man, I know you’re lying. (“Don’t Hurt Yourself”)

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8. I smell that fragrance on your Louis V, boy / Just give my fat ass a big kiss, boy / Tonight I’m f*cking up all your shit, boy. (“Don’t Hurt Yourself”)

9. This is your final warning / You know I give you life / If you try this shit again you gon’ lose your wife. (“Don’t Hurt Yourself”)

10. Looking at my watch, he shoulda been home / Today I regret the night I put that ring on / He always got them fucking excuses. (“Sorry”)

11. He only want me when I’m not on there / He better call Becky with the good hair. (“Sorry”)

12. My daddy warned me about men like you / He said, “Baby girl, he’s playing you.” (“Daddy Lessons”)

13. I’ve always been committed, I’ve been focused / I always paid attention, been devoted, tell me what did I do wrong? (“Love Drought”)

14. Ten times out of nine, I know you’re lying / 
But nine times outta ten, I know you’re trying. (“Love Drought”)

15. Are you aware you’re my lifeline, are you trying to kill me? / 
If I wasn’t me, would you still feel me? / 
Like on my worst day? Or am I not thirsty enough? (“Love Drought”)

16. Pictures snatched out the frame / 
Bitch, I scratched out your name and your face / 
What is it about you that I can’t erase, baby? (“Sandcastles”)

17. We built sandcastles that washed away
 / I made you cry when I walked away
 / And although I promised that I couldn’t stay, baby / 
Every promise don’t work out that way. (“Sandcastles”)

18. Found the truth beneath your lies
 / And true love never has to hide. (“All Night”)

#2. Jay-Z Completely Approves Of Beyoncé’s Lemonade

Image: Getty

Image: Getty

After releasing her visual album Lemonade on Saturday, Beyoncé set the Internet ablaze when she alluded to infidelity in her marriage. In response, the BeyHive, loyal as ever, called out Jay Z on the Internet, as well as the suspected other women (“Becky with the good hair”),Rachel Roy and Rita Ora.

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In spite of the finger-pointing and blaming, it turns out Jay Z already knew aboutLemonade way before it dropped. Sources told E! that he was aware of all the songs and supported his wife’s decision to express her hurting and healing through her music.

“He understands the reasoning,” one source told E! News. “This is part of the process of being transparent. And they have healed. He has been very humble about the experience. Beyoncé is the love of his life and he will do what it takes.”

Doing what it takes apparently included helping Beyoncé release the music. Jay was reportedly involved in making the album itself, though he might not be credited as a contributor. “He knew the lyrics; he knew the implications. He had to approve the songs before release,” someone close to the couple told E! News.

And Bey expected that nit-picky listeners would catch on to the intention behind her lyrics. “She knew that people were going to dissect each word,” another source said. And beyond her own personal struggle, Beyoncé hoped her songs would “connect with women’s emotions” too.

Ultimately, the potential album profits played a big role too, especially considering Lemonade‘s exclusive residence on Tidal, which the couple owns. “Jay is a very smart businessman…Bottom line is that they are both really smart and they both saw dollar signs,” the second source added.

But when it comes to the music, though they act as separate artists, they’re “very in it together and supportive of each other’s craft,” another insider said. And when the album dropped, the rapper was said to be by his wife’s side rather than out in hiding, as the memes suggested.

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#3. Beyoncé’s Father Doesn’t Know If Those Lemonade Lyrics Are About Him

Image: Getty

Image: Getty

Beyoncé’s father and former Destiny’s Child manager Mathew Knowles did an interview Monday with Mark Thompson for SiriusXM’s Make It Plain radio show, where he touched on speculation that his daughter was referring to him—and calling him out for infidelity and abuse—in Lemonade. Knowles reached out and asked for the interview, Thompson said, and surprised the host by taking the call in front of his Texas Southern University class. (Knowles is a college professor.)

Knowles hasn’t spoken to Beyoncé since Lemonade‘s release, he said, but they do talk. He is not fazed by the Beyhive’s attacks, either: “The media would have you think I’ve never spoken to Beyoncé. But as you can see in the documentary, that me and Blue Ivy was playing. I’m a grown-up, I’m 64 years old, it doesn’t bother me what people say about me. I know the facts. I know how many times I see my kids, and they speak to me so that’s not important to me. No, I have not spoken to Beyoncé this week. Do I talk to her? Do I see her? Yes.”

When asked whether people should ignore the album’s suggestion that Jay Z cheated on Beyoncé, Knowles said no. “No, no, no, not at all! I think what Beyoncé’s done is given us her best body of work…. I think she has touched and brought awareness to a number of issues to this documentary. I think she’s brought awareness to Black Lives Matter, I think she’s brought awareness to challenges with marriages, I think she’s brought to the forefront challenges with parents….”

It’s all very interesting―and worth a full listen.