So, Solange NOS just called out Richard Lawson in a major way, accusing him of betraying her mom, Tina NOS, and she’s brought some serious receipts to back it up. Solange is definitely someone you don’t want to mess with, especially when it comes to her family, and Richard’s finding that out now. Even though Tina and Richard just finalized their divorce, the drama is far from over. Solange is alleging that Richard stole from Tina during their marriage and that he was all about the money. She even hinted that Richard has been manipulating Tina for over 30 years. You might want to hold on tight, because Solange is not playing around.
It looks like Tina NOS’s divorce from Richard Lawson is way more dramatic than anyone expected. We all thought it would be a straightforward, no-fuss split, but Solange’s revelations are proving otherwise. The marriage was apparently a hot mess, to the point where Solange and Beyoncé might have been secretly rooting for it to end. If the Knowles sisters are okay with a divorce, you know that marriage must have been seriously toxic. They were initially supportive because Tina had found love again after her rocky marriage to their dad, Matthew NOS. That was a whole drama on its own, remember? Their marriage was full of ups and downs before they finally separated in 2011.
Usually, Beyoncé and Solange would have been super wary when Richard started pursuing their mom right after her split from Matthew. Tina is a major figure—mother to Beyoncé and Solange, and mother-in-law to Jay-Z. It’s no surprise she’d attract attention from people looking for fame or fortune. But here’s the kicker: Solange actually trusted Richard at first. He wasn’t just some random guy; he had been close with the family long before things turned romantic.
Richard and Tina’s story goes way back, long before Beyoncé or Solange were even born. They first met when Tina was pregnant with Beyoncé, thanks to Tina’s best friend Gwyn—who, by the way, was Richard’s younger sister. From the get-go, Richard was drawn to Tina, even though she was very pregnant and still married. A bit unconventional, right? But we all have our quirks.
To make things even more complicated, Richard was married with a daughter at the time. But that didn’t stop him from making a move on Tina. Of course, Tina turned him down—she was committed to her then-husband. Still, she agreed to be friends, and they stayed close over the years, even though Richard’s feelings didn’t completely go away.
Then, in the ’90s, after Richard had divorced, he tried again to see if there was something more between them. But Tina wasn’t having it. She put him firmly in the friend zone and moved on. That’s how Tina tells it.
However, there’s another side to the story from David Brewer, Beyoncé’s former vocal coach. According to Brewer, Tina’s marriage to Matthew was seriously strained, partly because Matthew was allegedly struggling with drug addiction. In his tell-all book, Brewer wrote, “Matthew had moved on from cocaine to crack cocaine. His behavior got increasingly erratic.”
Brewer claimed that Tina’s troubles with Matthew led her to seek comfort elsewhere, including an affair with Richard Lawson. Brewer shared an awkward encounter where he saw Tina and Richard together: “One day, I went to the main house to pick up my keyboard and walked in on Tina kissing Richard Lawson, a well-known actor. It was a bit uncomfortable. Tina was supposed to be at her salon, so when Richard left, I told him how much I admired his work. Afterward, Tina explained, ‘Richard is my cousin. He’s on that stuff.’” Brewer also noted that Tina’s infidelity seemed understandable given Matthew’s own unfaithfulness and erratic behavior.
Things really started to unravel when Beyoncé and Solange’s careers took off, bringing the whole family into the spotlight. Matthew, who was managing Beyoncé at the time, suddenly had access to a lot of money. This led to a slew of rumors about him misusing funds and even stealing from Beyoncé. His personal life wasn’t any less scandalous—he was known for his numerous affairs, and the situation got worse when he got another woman pregnant while still married to Tina. This betrayal left Tina heartbroken and humiliated. She initially filed for divorce but then reconsidered and tried to make the marriage work. For a while, it seemed like they might pull through. But just when it looked like things couldn’t get worse, Matthew got yet another woman pregnant. That was the final straw for Tina. She’d had enough and decided it was time to end the marriage for good. Tina officially divorced Matthew in 2011, and Richard was right there supporting her.
Interestingly, Tina later revealed that Richard was a crucial part of her healing process. She said, “We became friends and hung out. I supported her because she was going through a tough time with the divorce and the remarriage of her previous husband. We just took our time. We became friends, traveled together, and gradually, our connection deepened in a natural, beautiful way.” After being in the friend zone for over 30 years, Richard decided to make a move. He started pursuing Tina, even though she wasn’t immediately interested. His persistence eventually won her over, and after two more years, Tina finally saw him as more than just a friend. They started dating after 32 years of friendship.
This long history explains why Solange and the rest of the family welcomed Richard with open arms when he and Tina became a couple. Solange had known Richard her entire life as her mom’s close friend and trusted him. Richard had been around long before the family became famous, so Solange knew he was genuine. Unlike other suitors who were drawn to the NOS name and wealth, Richard was seen as a better match for Tina. Once they started dating, Richard knew exactly how to handle their relationship.
Richard understood how much Tina cherished her kids, so he made sure they were included in their relationship from the start. He spent a lot of time with her daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, and their families, blending their lives into one big, happy family. The proposal story is especially touching and involves little Blue Ivy Carter. During a family event, tiny Blue, who was just a toddler at the time, asked Richard when he and Tina would be getting married. Richard saw this as a perfect opportunity and decided to take it. He not only asked Blue for her blessing to propose to Tina but also made sure to get the approval of her daughters. He knew how important their support was to Tina, so he wanted to make sure they were fully on board. Richard later said in an interview, “I reached out to her kids and asked for their blessing. I felt it was important because our relationship wouldn’t have worked unless they were happy about it. Luckily, they were thrilled and super excited.”
At first, Solange was totally supportive of the marriage, thinking Richard was just the right guy for her mom. But as time went by, she started having doubts. She began to wonder if maybe they had gotten him wrong and that he might have been more interested in the money and fame than in her mom. After all, Solange admitted that Tina can be a bit of a handful at times. Like that time when Tina, on camera, didn’t hold back and told Richard he wasn’t perfect: “I had a vision of the kind of man I wanted. I prayed for him, and I got pretty much that. Is he perfect? Definitely not. But he has so many of the qualities I love, and we’re having a great time and enjoying life. So, ladies, there’s hope. No one is perfect.”
Even with everything that’s happened, Solange still believes Richard was using her mom just like he probably used his first wife, Denise Gordy. For those who might not know, Denise’s uncle was the founder of Motown Records, which was huge back in the day. Solange apparently thinks Richard took advantage of Denise’s connections to boost his Hollywood career, and she’s convinced he did the same with Tina. While he might have genuinely loved Tina at first—or at least for the first 30 years—Solange feels that over time, his love turned into something much more self-serving. Tina, being as sharp as she is, figured this out too. She wasn’t about to stay in a marriage where she felt used instead of loved, so she decided to file for divorce. Now, their marriage is officially over.
It probably didn’t help that Tina was ordered to pay Richard a one-time alimony. According to sources, Solange was really upset about this and feels it’s just not fair.
Here’s how the divorce settlement shook out: Tina got to keep a property in Los Angeles, another in Texas, all the furniture, appliances, artwork, and personal items at both places. She also retained all earnings since their separation, creative works made during their marriage, a 2018 Tesla, a 2020 Bentley, and a book deal with Penguin Random House, plus a 1% stake in Kirby Beauty Management LLC. Richard got a 2021 Cadillac Escalade, all earnings since their separation, funds from Richard Lawson Studios Inc., his SAG pension plan, royalties, creative works from their time together, and his personal belongings, including clothes and jewelry. But an insider claims that Solange thinks it would have been fairer if Tina and Richard had only taken what was theirs and feels Richard is unfairly benefiting from the alimony.
People have had a lot to say about Solange’s comments. Some are saying: “This is what happens when you think you want something until you actually get it and then realize you don’t. Marrying a rebound rarely works out. The red flags were there for both sides. Just because you know someone doesn’t mean it will work out when you finally get together. People change, and so do situations. It’s not surprising she doesn’t respect Mr. Lawson. If she disrespects him publicly, imagine what it’s like behind closed doors.”
So, what do you think? Do you buy Solange’s story about Richard using her mom, or do you think she’s just trying to protect her mom’s image