LOS ANGELES — South African pop star Tyla appears to be letting the internet run with its latest celebrity theory after social media speculation linked her jewellery collection to A$AP Rocky and, in turn, fuelled baseless rumours involving Rihanna.
The speculation began after fans noticed Tyla wearing colourful custom jewellery associated with Japanese creative Verdy and US jeweller Alex Moss. Because A$AP Rocky has also worn pieces created by the same collaborators, social media users began connecting the two artists, eventually turning a fashion coincidence into online rumours about an alleged relationship.
There is, however, no evidence that Tyla and Rocky are romantically involved or that the jewellery has any connection to an alleged affair.
Rocky has previously worn a Verdy-designed cartoon Jesus Piece created by Moss, while Tyla has also been photographed wearing custom pieces from the same creative circle. The shared jewellery designers therefore provide little basis for the claims circulating online.
Tyla appears to respond
The speculation intensified after a message attributed to Tyla’s Instagram Story circulated online.
“Imma leave every rumour to rock from now on. Have fun y’all. #APOP,” the message reportedly read.
Tyla did not explicitly identify Rocky or Rihanna in the post, nor did she directly confirm or deny the allegations being discussed online.
That ambiguity has nevertheless generated further interpretation, with social media users attempting to determine whether the post was a response to the rumours or simply a general comment about online gossip.
For now, there is no confirmation from Tyla that the post was specifically directed at the claims involving Rocky and Rihanna.
Met Gala moment reignites speculation
The latest rumours have also revived attention around an awkward-looking interaction involving Tyla and Rihanna at the Met Gala earlier this year.
Short clips from the event circulated widely online, with some viewers interpreting the exchange as evidence of tension between the two artists.
Tyla subsequently offered an explanation, saying she had approached Rihanna and that the singer told her that her “baby daddy” had been calling before leaving.
The encounter was subsequently interpreted by some social media users as something more significant than it was, despite Tyla rejecting the idea of a dispute between them.
According to TMZ, Tyla said there was no hostility between the pair and made her admiration for Rihanna clear. She reportedly said: “Everyone knows I love Rih.”
Fashion becomes fuel for celebrity theories
The episode illustrates how quickly ordinary connections within the entertainment and fashion industries can become the basis for elaborate online theories.
Custom jewellery frequently moves through the same networks of designers, stylists, artists and celebrity clients. A shared designer or similar piece does not establish a personal relationship between the people wearing it.
In Tyla’s case, the jewellery connection appears to have been enough for social media speculation to move from fashion to romance, despite the absence of supporting evidence.
The singer’s reported decision to avoid directly addressing the rumours may also reflect the increasingly familiar dilemma faced by celebrities: responding to every online theory can give a rumour greater visibility, while silence often creates even more room for speculation.
For now, the alleged Tyla-Rocky connection remains an internet theory rather than an established fact, while Tyla’s comments about Rihanna indicate that the widely circulated interpretation of their Met Gala interaction does not reflect the relationship she has publicly described.
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