‘She checks up on me’: Issa Rae gets candid about friendship with Beyonce on ‘Today’ with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager

Issa Rae claimed she's a 'huge fan' of Beyonce as she sat down to talk to Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager
PUBLISHED DEC 1, 2023
Issa Rae recalled the time Beyonce complimented her in 2017 while talking to Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager (Getty Images, @hodaandjenna/YouTube)
Issa Rae recalled the time Beyonce complimented her in 2017 while talking to Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager (Getty Images, @hodaandjenna/YouTube)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: During the November 30 episode of ‘Today with Hoda & Jenna’, Issa Rae sat down with hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager to talk about her budding relationship with A-list star Beyonce and said that the iconic singer “checks up” on her.

Rae, the talented actress, writer, and producer, is celebrated for her groundbreaking work in creating and starring in the acclaimed HBO series ‘Insecure’.

The ‘Today’ hosts were also joined by KaMillion and Aida Osman, the stars of the hit show ‘Rap S*!t’ as they talked about their journey to acting from music and writing.

Issa Rae recalled an encounter she had with Beyoncé in 2017 (@hodaandjenna/YouTube)
Issa Rae recalled an encounter she had with Beyonce in 2017 (@hodaandjenna/YouTube)

Issa Rae opens up about her friendship with Beyonce

During her appearance on ‘Today With Hoda & Jenna’, Issa Rae opened up about her growing connection with Beyonce, sharing that the iconic singer actively stays in touch with her.

"She checks up on me," Rae mentioned when asked whether she and Beyonce know each other. She added, "We know each other, met her Several times. I am just, you know, a huge fan."

The actress and writer reminisced about a 2017 encounter with Beyonce, where the ‘Break My Soul’ singer complimented Rae, telling her she was beautiful.

After the encounter, Rae took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her excitement about the moment, tweeting, "I hugged Beyonce tonight and she told my regular face a-- that I was beautiful. WHAT ELSE IS LEFT?!?!"



 

During her conversation with Kotb and Hager, Rae recalled that she "squealed" after Beyonce complimented her.

"I held it together. I was with my friends. She came over with Jay-Z, and then as soon as she walked away, we just squealed like ridiculous," she recounted.

On the show, Rae also discussed attending the premiere of ‘Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce’, where the dress code was "cozy opulence."



 

Issa Rae stuns in shimmery black dress

At the premiere, which took place on November 25, Issa Rae was captured on the red carpet exuding elegance in a shimmery black dress paired with matching heels. The dress was high neck and full sleeves and she tied her hair up in a bun to complete the look.

When asked about her outfit, Rae explained that she intentionally chose a more subdued look for the premiere as her main focus was to enjoy the movie.

She expressed, "Everyone was opulent. I was in the middle. I was like, I really just want to see this movie and eat popcorn. Let me just take something out of my closet. And people said that about me. They were like, she looked like she just showed up to watch the movie, and I did!"

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'The Pitt' star Shawn Hatosy dropped a major hint on a potential spinoff featuring his character and the night shift
3 hours ago
'Fire Country' is inspired by the California fire department, but its actual shooting spots are quite surprising.
4 hours ago
Production designer shares what each house in 'Your Friends & Neighbors' represents and where exactly fans can find it.
6 hours ago
After Jessica Jones, two other major characters from ‘The Defenders’ will possibly return to NYC in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3.
10 hours ago
A longtime cast member's future hangs by a thread as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 22 nears its finale.
11 hours ago
Andrew 'Coop' Cooper is cleared of murder in 'Your Friends & Neighbors' Season 1, but in Season 2, he returns to more risky and criminal habits.
12 hours ago
‘The Chosen’ reaches its most intense chapter yet as Season 6 sets premiere date, with a bold release plan and a big-screen twist ahead.
12 hours ago
Season 2 of ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ deals with darker themes as Coop continues to push his luck, and Jon Hamm gives a major update.
1 day ago
While no official date has been set for 'The Pitt' Season 3, reports suggest that it will premiere next year, without this fan-favorite character.
1 day ago
'The Pitt' has already been renewed for a third season by HBO Max and is currently in the writing stage.
1 day ago