South African star Tyla and Nigerian sensation Ayra Starr are once again at the centre of a fierce online fan war after global icon Rihanna’s latest social media post appeared to fuel the long-running rivalry between their supporters.
The drama intensified after a viral clip from the 2026 Met Gala showed Tyla standing awkwardly nearby while Rihanna seemed occupied. Shortly after, Rihanna posted a recap video of her Met Gala appearance using Ayra Starr’s hit song “Who’s Dat Girl” as the background track.
Both artists have previously addressed the fan-driven comparisons and insisted there is no personal beef between them.Tyla previously explained her Met Gala interaction on TikTok, saying she chose not to approach Rihanna because she looked busy. She recalled their first meeting fondly, noting Rihanna had to step away to answer a call from A$AP Rocky.
Ayra Starr has also shut down rivalry talk in past interviews, describing Tyla warmly as “my homegirl, that’s my G.”
Despite the artists’ clear stance of mutual respect, fans from both sides continue to engage in heated battles online, turning every celebrity interaction into fuel for comparison over awards, streams, and global recognition.
On X, the reactions poured in quickly. Updateboyx said
“The only girl recognised by Rihanna. Who’s the other girl?”
ace_ofPhrance also weighed in, writing,
“She still chose Ayra Starr’s ‘Who’s that girl’ let those delusional fans of that same beat girl choke!!”
A user defended Rihanna’s actions and mocked Tyla over the awkward encounter. _ikofficial posted:
“Thank You for humbling Tyla. Put that girl in her place.”
The latest Rihanna post has only intensified the cross-border stan war, keeping both Tyla and Ayra Starr trending for days.