‘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
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

'Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes' delves into the life and crimes of the serial killer
1 hour ago
The upcoming four-part historical drama is based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel and features the French Revolution.
2 hours ago
‘Chicago P.D.’ star and co-creator come together for a new project, which follows a battle-tested DEA agent in Kansas City.
3 hours ago
'The Lincoln Lawyer' universe is set to expand as the original show gears up to conclude with Season 5
5 hours ago
'Grey's Anatomy' has given its fans a new reason to wonder about Sandra Oh's Cristina Yang's return.
13 hours ago
Ned takes on a risky investigation as the Toledo Truth Teller staff navigate romance and newsroom trouble, with new trailer revealing release date.
13 hours ago
Season 3’s finale concluded with Ted returning to the United States and many open-ended arcs sparking debates about a possible spinoff.
14 hours ago
Maria Sten's 'Neagley' faces a dangerous mystery after a friend's suspicious death leads her toward a hidden cult.
15 hours ago
‘Chicago Med’ Season 12 premiere will feature a ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ alum as an overbearing mother; however, nothing much is known about her role.
21 hours ago
Jack Reacher finds himself in more trouble after a woman kills herself in front of him
22 hours ago