The ongoing soap opera that is Jay Z and Beyonce’s marriage has hit the headlines yet again, after the rapper seemed to confirm rumours that things haven’t been perfect between the A-list couple.
In a chat with fellow celebs Chris Rock, Will Smith, Kendrick Lamar and others – released on Tidal yesterday – Jay, 47, was surprisingly frank about his relationship with the former Destiny’s Child star, 35.
And he admitted that there had been deceit between the two of them.
“This is my real life,” he told his fellow stars. “I just ran into this place, and [Beyoncé and I] built this big, beautiful mansion of a relationship that wasn’t totally built on the 100 per cent truth – and it starts cracking.”
“Things start happening that the public can see. Then we had to get to a point of, ‘OK, tear this down and let’s start from the beginning.’ It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
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Rumours of Jay’s infidelity have surfaced on several occasions since the couple got together in 2002, but have never been substantiated.
Everyone from Rihanna to Rita Ora has been linked to the 99 Problems star.
And in May 2014, Beyoncé’s sister Solange physically attacked the rapper after rumours surfaced that he’d had a fling with Rachel Roy, the ex-wife of his ex-business partner Dame Dash.
During the Tidal conversation, Jay spoke about an incident where he found himself begging his wife not to leave a holiday they were on.
“I was on a boat, and I had the best time,” he said. “I was like, ‘Man, this is great.’ Then she had to leave.
“I was, like, crushed. ‘Man, I don’t even feel like this. What is happening to my body right now? I don’t even feel like this. Did I just say… ‘Don’t leave’?”
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“We’ve been in that space where we just got to the place that in order for this to work, it can’t be fake – not once. I’m not saying it wasn’t uncomfortable because obviously it was, but because we’ve been doing it for so long it was less uncomfortable.”
Jay and Beyoncé have three children together: five-year-old Blue Ivy Carter, and twins Rumi and Sir, who were born last month.
They’re due to celebrate ten years of marriage next year – if all goes well.