In the mid-2000s, R&B star Mýa, known for hits like “Case of the Ex” and “Lady Marmalade,” suddenly became a footnote in hip-hop’s most ruthless feuds and later, in Hollywood’s biggest marriage scandal. Her story is a stark example of how a woman’s character can be weaponized and how a reputation can be ruined by rumors in an instant.

The 50 Cent Diss Track and The Confession

The controversy began in 2005 when rapper 50 Cent released the scathing diss track “Not Rich Still Lying,” aimed at his former protégé, The Game. The track included a single, shocking lyric that dragged Mýa’s name into the crossfire, suggesting he “evened Mýa” after The Game had been with her first.

Mýa was furious that her character was being attacked in a rap beef she had nothing to do with.

Public Denial: When she finally addressed the situation, she flat out denied the claim, stating that the lyric was not only false but an attack on her integrity.
The Refusal: At a red carpet event, Mýa was captured on camera refusing an interview with a reporter from This is 50, stating she does not support people “projecting false things or disrespecting someone’s character.”
The Lie: The most telling moment occurred behind the scenes. In a meeting at her label, Violator, with her father present, someone later confessed to lying about the original claim, proving the lyric was built entirely on a rumor that had spun out of control.

Despite the confession, Mýa understood that the damage was already done, and her name would forever be tied to the rap war in the public’s mind.

Collateral Damage in the ‘Lemonade’ Era

Years later, as Mýa’s US radio support dried up, she became an unwilling participant in another massive scandal surrounding Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

The Lemonade Rumors: When Beyoncé released her 2016 album Lemonade, which featured raw honesty about betrayal and infidelity, speculation about who Jay-Z had cheated with went into overdrive. Despite Mýa repeatedly denying any connection with Jay-Z, online gossip resurfaced old rumors, dragging her name into the mess.
The Double Standard: Mýa was one of the hardest-working independent artists in the game, funding her own projects and touring internationally, yet the mainstream press and online public only seemed to care when her name could be linked to Jay-Z’s marriage troubles.
The Solange Echo: The chaos was further reinforced by the infamous 2014 security footage leak of Solange physically attacking Jay-Z in an elevator. This incident served as a reminder of how dangerous it was to be linked to the powerful couple.

Through all the chaos, Mýa chose silence, independence, and focus. She consciously decided to walk away from the label system, giving up mainstream success for control over her own career and her own narrative, a career now built on her own terms away from the industry’s drama.