Keri Hilson breaks 16-year silence on ‘regretful’ Beyonce diss track

The R&B singer says she was ‘forced’ to sing the lyrics about Beyoncé, clarifying she didn’t write them

Keri Hilson is finally ready to talk about that Beyoncé diss track.

Sixteen years after a leaked remix of Turnin’ Me On seemingly took aim at Beyoncé, the R&B singer is setting the record straight, claiming that she never wanted beef with Queen Bey.

In a new interview with People magazine, Hilson, 42, says she was “forced” to record the infamous verse that has haunted her career ever since.

“I didn’t write them. I was forced to sing them,” she said, admitting the lyrics “probably were” about Beyoncé. “I never wanted to record it. I definitely never wanted it to come out.”

The diss stirred major backlash in 2009 and ignited a long-running narrative that Hilson was feuding with the pop icon. At the time, she says, her creative team wanted attention at any cost.

Hilson, who was just in her mid-20s at the time, says she stayed quiet out of fear.

“I felt these people had my career in their hands, and one phone call could have ended it,” she explained.

Though she’s since met Beyoncé in person, the two have never talked about the incident. Still, Hilson hopes they eventually can.

“I would love the opportunity,” she said. “I don’t know if it will ever happen, but it’s something I’ve dreamt about.”