A post shared by Rihanna after the 2026 Met Gala has reignited online rivalry between fans of South African singer Tyla and Nigerian artist Ayra Starr.

The buzz started after a viral clip from the May 4 event showed Tyla standing near Rihanna while the Barbadian star appeared engaged in another conversation. The footage led some users to speculate that Rihanna had ignored the “Water” singer.

The conversation escalated on Thursday when Rihanna posted a Met Gala recap video using Ayra Starr’s track “Who’s Dat Girl” as the soundtrack. Fans quickly linked the timing to the earlier clip, with some interpreting it as a subtle nod to the Nigerian singer.

Nigerians online celebrated the shoutout, pointing to Ayra Starr’s growing global profile. Others defended Tyla, arguing the moment with Rihanna was taken out of context.

Tyla has since addressed the viral moment on TikTok, saying she avoided approaching Rihanna because she looked busy and didn’t want to interrupt. She recalled a cordial meeting between them last year and said there was no bad blood.

Ayra Starr has also pushed back against attempts to pit her against Tyla. In past interviews she called the South African singer “my homegirl” and urged fans to stop setting women in music against each other.

Both artists have dismissed claims of a personal feud, but the incident has once again highlighted how fan comparisons around awards, streaming numbers, and global visibility continue to fuel online debates.