American fashion designer Rachel Roy has become the target of cheating rumours and internet vitriol following the release of Beyonce’s new album, Lemonade.

Beyonce released the visual album on Sunday and it immediately created shockwaves in the music world for its honest lyrics, which appear to refer to her husband Jay Z having an affair.

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On one track titled Apathy, Beyonce speaks of being taken for granted by a partner, adding “he better call Becky with the good hair”. Many interpreted this lyric as the name or pseudonym of her husband’s alleged lover.

Roy, 42, who started her career as an intern at Jay Z’s music label, fuelled rumours that she is the mysterious ‘Becky’ shortly after the album’s release by posting a photo to her Instagram mentioning “Good hair”.

“Good hair don’t care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies, or self truths, always. Live in the light #nodramaqueens.”

Beyonce fans were quick to jump on this, claiming the “good hair don’t care” line was a reference to the song, and confirmation that Roy is Becky.

The abuse came quick and fast. Roy responded on Twitter: “I respect love, marriages, families and strength. What shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone, no matter what, is bullying, of any kind.”

Roy later removed the photo before making her Instagram account private.

The elevator incident

This isn’t the first time Roy has become involved in Beyonce and Jay Z’s marriage of eight years.

When Beyonce’s sister Solange Knowles infamously attacked the rapper in an elevator at the 2014 Met Gala, Roy was widely cited as the cause of the confrontation.

According to a source “close to Solange” who spoke to gossip site Hollywood Life at the time, “Rachel Roy came up to [Solange] in a confrontational way earlier in the night”.

“Solange was defending Beyoncé in the elevator because Solange finds Jay’s friendship with Rachel to be WAY too close for comfort and it makes Solange very uncomfortable.

“Beyoncé also confronted Rachel and said, ‘Don’t talk to my sister like that,’ after [Rachel] confronted Solange.”

Asked about the elevator incident, Dash deemed it “kind of f***ed up”.

“If he was trying to holler at my wife … that would be dark. That means he really has some resentment. I would hope that wouldn’t be the case.”

An unfortunate mix-up

Meanwhile, entirely innocent American celebrity chef Rachael Ray is receiving abuse from fans who have confused her with Roy.

Ray, who has absolutely nothing to do with Beyonce and Jay Z, has copped thousands of aggressive comments from Beyonce’s fans, who collectively call themselves “the Beyhive”.

Ray, who has her own popular television show and several cookbooks, has not responded.