Beyonce has never been shy about her love for the late Tina turner so her tribute to the Queen of Rock’n’Roll came as no surprise… at least not to us.
People on social media aren’t feeling it though and according to Page Six In the couple’s 2013 hit duet track, “Drunk In Love,” Jay-Z raps, “Beat the box up, like Mike in ’97, I bite / I’m Ike Turner, turn up baby, no, I don’t play/ Baby, no, I don’t play, now eat the cake, Anna Mae/Said eat the cake, Anna Mae!.”
Tina’s birth name was Anna Mae Bullock and the cake line was reportedly in reference to a dispute Ike once had with the Grammy winner over a pastry.
The controversial lyrics have resurfaced in light of Tina’s death on Wednesday.
On Beyonce’s website she wrote:
“My beloved queen, I love you endlessly,” Beyoncé’s message began. “I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way.”
“You are strength and resilience,” she continued. “You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done.”
Here is the verse:
@numerease #queenb #jayz #drunkinlove💗 #queenbee #beyonceforever #winningequation #rapversechallenge #jayzrapverse #rapstars
and here is the scene in the movie:
@oooemmgeez My relationships been toxic like this lately 😮💨💯 #tinaturner #moviescene #fyp
“I keep thinking about how disrespectful it was for Jay-Z and Beyonce to have that ‘Drunk in Love’ lyric making fun of Tina Turner’s abuse from Ike…,” one person tweeted.
Another added alongside a screenshot of the lyric, “A reminder that Jay-Z and Beyoncé on ‘Drunk in Love’ say these words, mocking Tina Turner (Anna Mae) being beaten up by Ike Turner, & ref the moment he pushed her face into her celebration cake to abuse her.”
A third wrote, “Reflecting on Tina’s legacy, I’ve always been surprised + disappointed how her being a domestic violence survivor somehow always turned into a joke, esp. in rap music. That’s one reason I don’t play Drunk in Love often, because of Jay Z’s verse + his reference to ‘eat the cake.’”
Read more below:
A reminder that Jay-Z and Beyoncé on ‘Drunk in Love’ say these words, mocking Tina Turner (Anna Mae) being beaten up by Ike Turner, & ref the moment he pushed her face into her celebration cake to abuse her.
Tina said she ‘wasn’t surprised’ Jay-Z had compared himself to Ike 👀 pic.twitter.com/OoTA5p305L
— Dr. Jessica Taylor (@DrJessTaylor) May 24, 2023
and
notice how jay-z don’t never get whacked for what HE said in drunk in love, only beyonce pic.twitter.com/RcUPo5KgLN
— add 6 inch to the setlist (@mugleryonce) May 25, 2023
and
knowing that Tina Turner was Beyoncé’s blueprint and one of her biggest influences makes that “Eat The Cake Anna Mae” line in Drunk In Love even more jarring. https://t.co/CNC4RDgpc1
— del-cole-ray. (@DelGales) May 24, 2023
and
Let's talk about how Beyoncé removed 'spazz', a word used colloquially in Black culture from her latest album but her kept her grooming-ass husband's line in Drunk in Love that references Tina Turner's abuse by her late, former husband.
— M is for Mars' Baby + (wear a) Mask (@MariahM_ink) May 25, 2023
and
While we're on the topic, I love Beyoncé. I've seen her live, buy all her music, etc. But her and Jay Z did Tina dirty with "Drunk in Love". pic.twitter.com/WdKx76wV4K
— Julie S. Lalonde (@JulieSLalonde) May 24, 2023
and
This discourse led by SOME Black men about Tina Turner is disgusting and sad.
I still hate the way every one made her abuse a joke.
And still despise that Beyoncé and Jay-Z put the lyric in “Drunk in Love”
— Randi White (@RandiWhite) May 25, 2023
We should mention that Beyonce has removed “Drunk in love” from her tour track list.
