Beyonc's 'First Love' Cheated On Her Multiple Times, Then She Left Him For Jay-Z
Now that they've been together for ages, people generally associate queen Beyoncé's name with her husband Jay-Z. And though their origin story might not be super-glamorous (Bey reportedly friend-zoned him for years after they initially met), it's clear they're one of music's biggest power couples today.
But when Beyoncé's career was first taking off, she had another man on her arm; one who's far lesser-known and seems to be having some major regrets these days about how he treated the former Destiny's Child member.
While the star's fame took off at an impressive speed, her ex and childhood love Lyndall Locke was left in the dust — but he probably deserved it.
Who Did Beyoncé Date Before Jay-Z?
There have been plenty of rumors about Beyoncé's love life in the past, including some whispers that she might have dated Sean Paul when they worked together. But according to the queen herself, she's dated very few men. So how many boyfriends has Beyoncé had? Apparently fewer than three.
Beyoncé did state she only had one boyfriend before Jay, but it seems entirely plausible that she has only ever dated two men. Though plenty of rumors have cropped up over the years, tying the songstress to names like Sisqo, Pharrell, and even Kobe Bryant and Justin Timberlake, those were never confirmed.
The two relationships that have been confirmed? Lyndall Locke between 1993 and 2000, and Jay-Z from 2000 onward. The timeline, though, may not be quite what it seems.
Did Beyoncé Dump Her High School Sweetheart For Her Career?
Though Beyoncé doesn't often speak out about her personal relationships (well, outside of her songs), Lyndall Locke claimed in an in-depth interview with Daily Mail that he and Bey got together when she was 12 years old (he is two years older). He also revealed they had their first kiss (at a Brian McNight concert) the following year.
In the same interview, Locke claimed that the two were together for ten years. He marked their breakup in the year 2003, when Beyoncé began to mention Jay-Z, "casually dropping his name."
The only problem with the timeline? Most sources report that Bey and Jay have been together since 2000.
Of course, Knowles herself said that she and Jay-Z met in 2000 (in Mexico) but didn't have a date until a year and a half later. Depending on what month their first date was in (internet sleuths don't seem to have uncovered that detail. Yet?), that likely means her two relationships overlapped. According to Locke, they definitely did.
Not only that, but Bey's dive into the entertainment world with Destiny's Child's initial hits meant she was even more focused on her career and upward rise. Locke, in contrast, was at home doing not much of anything — except waiting on Bey to send him tickets to her shows, according to his mom.
Beyoncé's Ex Says He Cheated On Her, But She Left Him For Jay-Z
In his tell-all interview, Lyndall admitted that he cheated on Beyoncé early on in their relationship; he was 15, she was 13, and Locke had his first intimate experience with someone else.
Locke does suggest that he cheated on Beyoncé simply because he felt that she was away all the time and he was "lonely." They did break up as young teens but later reconciled, according to Lyndall.
But he'd make the same mistake again later on, when Beyoncé was on the road — and the two were much older. Looking back, he seems to think he shouldn't have been surprised when Beyoncé began edging him out of her life, due to more than just her fame.
Along with name-dropping Jay-Z, Locke said that Beyoncé's family (her team) seemed to be closing him out, and he also realized that he and his first love were on different paths in life. He also noted that Knowles' dad (who personally orchestrated her career, according to Locke) and her powerhouse mom seemed to look down on him, the 'small town kid,' while their daughter was becoming a superstar.
And Beyoncé's seeming ticket to the big leagues? A rapper by the name of Jay-Z. Locke had plenty of negative things to say about his time with Bey, though he doesn't outright talk smack on her, but he did say that his then-girlfriend told him Jay-Z wasn't her type, but that they should 'take a break.'
Not long after, according to Locke's timeline, Bey and Jay were the next Hollywood power couple, and he was left behind once again.
These days, Locke owns his own catering business, has a child, and is happily paired up with his child's mother. Not that Beyoncé seems very interested. Clearly, she's been busy since breaking things off with her high school sweetheart!
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGiZnrGfo7CmecWiqaysXZe8urLRopynnF2Ytaat056bZquYmnqtscWtZKGhnWK3osXZaA%3D%3D