Keri Hilson & 2009 Beyonce Diss Track Drama Explained

Keri Hilson has finally opened up about the controversy that has followed her since 2009 — her alleged diss track aimed at Beyonce. The R&B singer recently addressed the drama, where she expressed regret over the remix of her hit song “Turnin’ Me On,” which many believed took direct shots at Beyonce.

Keri Hilson regrets singing Beyonce diss track

Keri Hilson recently admitted on The Breakfast Club podcast that she never wanted to record the Beyonce diss track. “It’s a regret,” she confessed. “But not in the way people would think because that’s a song I actually didn’t write. Those are not my words,” she added. According to Hilson, the “shady” lyrics that sparked outrage weren’t even hers.

In 2009, the singer was preparing to launch her first album and was signed under Interscope Records. She was managed by producers Polow da Don and Timbaland. While touring with Lil Wayne, Polow da Don insisted she return to the studio to record a remix. But when Hilson arrived, she was blindsided by a pre-written verse she strongly disagreed with.

For those unaware, the diss track had controversial lyrics like, “She can sing, but she need to move it to the left, left / She need to go have some babies. She needs to sit down, she fake.” These are the lines that many listeners saw as digs at Beyonce, Ciara, and others.

Keri Hilson said she immediately objected. “I was like, ‘I’m not saying that.’ That was my position,” she recalled. However, her pushback was met with pressure. She claims Polow was “forceful” in getting her to record the remix, warning her that her album wouldn’t be released otherwise. She fought back by writing her own verse.

Though she recorded both versions, the original, with the controversial lyrics, leaked shortly after. The backlash was immediate and brutal. Fans believed Hilson had targeted Beyonce and Ciara, sparking years of criticism. Notably, songwriter Ester Dean recently came forward to reveal she co-wrote the track.