When meeting the Queen of England, there are several customs and courtesies people are meant to follow to show respect to the crown. Don’t turn your back on her, don’t touch her, and address her properly. Our very own sovereign, Beyoncé, has her own rules (especially since #WhoBitBeyoncé) that Nicole Curran, wife of the Golden State Warriors’ owner, did not seem to abide by at last night’s NBA Finals game. A video of Curran leaning over Beyoncé to talk to Jay-Z popped up thanks to ESPN, and Twitter lost it at Bey’s reaction. She immediately recoils, shoots Curran a look, and then nudges her a little farther away. It’s so southern belle of her to do this without uttering a word. By the end of the video, even Jay-Z knows he messed up. The internet is obsessed, calling Curran the new “Becky with the good hair” and admiring both Beyoncé’s pettiness and restraint.
For Curran’s side of the story, see her Instagram post this morning. She’s apparently helping Beyoncé fix her hair and is very proud to be doing her civic duty. But the singer just does not want it. The best way to make a friend is to give them personal space, especially if that friend is a multiplatinum, award-winning artist. Let us add to the list of customs for meeting Queen Bey: Don’t bite, don’t tell, don’t lean over her, and don’t touch her man.
Update: Before turning off her Instagram comments, Nicole Curran responded to the Beyhive’s onslaught of bee emoji and uncalled-for threats. This screenshot, uncovered by the Shade Room, shows Curran defending her lean.
Listen Beehive [sic]. I respect Queen B. I love her! I talked to her husband twice tonight. First, to take a drink order for them both when they arrived as they were our guests. Second, to explain why I gave his wife a rose from a fan. All of this has been taken out of context. I’m a happily married woman. Telling me to kill myself?????? Somehow I don’t think she would support this.
What Curran doesn’t get is that most of the Beyhive couldn’t care less about Beyoncé’s husband. And he knows that if he tried that shit again, he would lose his wife. It’s about respecting the queen’s personal space. Do that and the hive won’t have any problems.