In 2009, at the height of her career, one remix derailed what Keri Hilson had been working her whole life to achieve — and now, 16 years later, she’s finally addressed what happened with the song that made her public enemy number one amongst Beyoncé’s loyal legion of fans, the Beehive.
For a quick refresher, the remix to the hit track was never officially released, but leaked instead, and the lyrics quickly had fans fiercely and savagely attacking Hilson for seemingly shading Beyoncé.
In an exclusive interview with People, the 42-year-old singer opened up about how she ended up singing the “Turnin’ Me On” remix that she “never” wanted to record.
Hilson said that once she arrived at the studio ready to add new lyrics for the song’s remix, she was met with a surprise. “I get there, and one had been written for me already,” she said, noting that the new lyrics were meant to “garner attention” for her and the song.
“It didn’t matter if that was negative or positive, and calls were made that twisted my arm into doing something that I never wanted to do,” Hilson told the outlet. “I never wanted to record it. I definitely never wanted it to come out.”
RELATED CONTENT: Keri Hilson Gracefully Gathers A Troll After They Suggest She Get A BBL: ‘I’m So Good If You Never Looked My Way’
‘Turnin’ Me On’ Again! Keri Hilson Returns With 1st Album In Almost 15 Years, ‘We Need To Talk’ [EXCLUSIVE]
While admitting that the remix lyrics “probably were” about Beyoncé, Hilson added “I didn’t write them. I was forced to sing them. They’re not my words, but I ate it, and I protected people, and I paid for it,” she said. “I was super young, my career was put on the line about it, and I felt like I had no choice but to do it.”
The singer/songwriter said that it wasn’t until recently that openly talked about the incident due to fear of being blackballed. “I probably could have cleaned it up, but I didn’t want to make my career even more difficult. I wanted it to go away,” Hilson said.
Hilson and Beyoncé have “introduced ourselves” in the years since, but the two “never got a chance to talk.” Hilson said that she has dreamt about being able to talk to Beyoncé one day to clear the air, before admitting “I don’t know if it will ever happen.”
Looking back, Hilson said she isn’t as hard on herself now as she was in the past when everything initially occurred. “I can give myself grace. I was young, I felt these people had my career in their hands, and one phone call could have ended it. That was the fear that was presented to me.”
These days, Hilson is getting ready to release her first album since 2010, when We Need To Talk drops on April 18.
“It’s also a parallel to my career — loving music, encountering drama and feeling redeemed finally. Finding reconciliation within and without, outside and inside,” she said of the nine-track album that is the first in a three-part series.
RELATED CONTENT: ‘Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Is Back! 10 Atlanta Stars Who Deserve A Peach
