"They done called her everything from a witch to the Illuminati"— Drea Kelly calls Beyoncé's haters the 'real MVP'

Andrea "Drea" Kelly recently weighed in on the rumors surrounding Beyoncé. During her appearance on Carlos King's Reality with the King podcast on December 10, 2024, Kelly remarked that she felt seen when discussing the superstar singer's participation in a dance trend she had initiated.

The dancer explained:

"They done called her everything from a witch to the Illumina(ti). So for her to know what it's like to be in a space where people create this narrative about you, they love to hate you, they say what they want to. But they always lurking and watching what you doin."

Drea Kelly was referencing the recent "Thank you, Beyoncé" conspiracy theory. The theory claims that artists always praise the Halo hitmaker during their acceptance speeches to acknowledge the singer's influence in the industry. It further alleges that she would organize a hit on those that seem like a threat. Drea continued:

"Y'all haters are the MVP, honey. Y'all have perfect attendence. Y'all are employee of the month. Y'all hater don't miss a day to hate and create."

The rumors stem from the arrest of rapper Diddy on charges of s*x trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. According to his unsealed indictment, he ran a "criminal enterprise" that physically and s*xually abused "women and others" for years.

This included participating in "elaborate and produced s*x performances" at his freak-off parties for the benefit of Diddy and his guests. Since then, netizens have speculated about who those guests might have been, including Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

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"It was the joy and the smile on her face that did it for me"— Drea Kelly on Beyoncé grooving to her dance moves

In March, Beyoncé dropped her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter. The album featured the track II Hands II Heaven, which Drea Kelly, the former wife of incarcerated rapper R. Kelly, performed a routine to. Kelly's video went viral, with celebrities like Chloe Bailey and Donté Colley participating in the trend.

In May, the singer herself shared a post of her grooving to Kelly's steps.

Referencing the moment during her interview on Carlos King's podcast, Kelly explained that it felt like Beyoncé was saying, "I see you." King added that the singer doesn't do anything "accidentally" and that all of her moves are "planned and vetted."

Drea noted that her ex, R. Kelly, and Jay-Z collaborated on the 2002 album The Best of Both Worlds, prompting the host to state:

"Oh my gosh. That could have been Beyoncé's way of saying, 'I see you. I know what you've been through."

Drea added:

"I am a spiritual person. It was the joy and the smile on her face that did it for me... 'Cause I am you and you are me baby."

Andrea was referencing the rumors and negative reactions both she and Beyoncé faced online, empathizing with each other's situation. She elaborated that it wasn't "validation"; it was "woman to woman, mother to mother, being in this business—I see you."

King agreed, adding:

"It was her way of saying, 'I see you. I support you. I know what you've been through... That was her way of supporting a woman."

Drea Kelly then excitedly revealed, "Mama Knowles" (Beyoncé's mother) was following her on social media.

Elsewhere in the interview, the dancer and choreographer opened up about her decision to keep R. Kelly's last name. For the unversed, the R&B singer is currently facing a 31-year sentence after being found guilty of s*x trafficking and racketeering (2022), child s*x abuse (2022), and child p*rnography (2023).

Referencing the criticism surrounding her decision, she stated that she was the mother of his children (they share three kids). She remarked:

"You don't even know what I do? You don’t even know what my profession is, and at the end of the day, how do I bring to the table when I am the table?"

She continued to explain that Kelly is part of her children's name and that she would live with the name all her life.

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Beyoncé has not publicly reacted to Drea Kelly's comments.