What Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Body Language Really Say
Body language can reveal many truths about relationships - but only if you know how to read it. In Celebrity Couples: Decoded, an expert interprets A-listers' interactions to shed light on their IRL dynamic.
Together, Beyoncé, 36, and Jay-Z, 48, comprise one of the music industry's most iconic couples. Having just announced their On The Run 2 tour, which is scheduled to take place this summer, the largely private duo will soon appear on the same stage.
Having first coupled up in 2002, the stars quietly tied the knot in 2008, welcomed daughter Blue Ivy in January 2012, and had twins Rumi and Sir in June 2017. They're still together, despite rumors of Jay-Z's infidelity, which he confirmed in a November 2017 interview with The New York Times, and also addressed lyrically in his 4:44 album.
Here, Blanca Cobb, a North Carolina-based body-language expert, reveals what Bey and Jay's interactions say about their 15-year-old relationship, beginning with their early days:
Jay-Z holds Bey by the torso.
Although Cobb says the way couple is walking in this photo looks exceptionally awkward - "It would be more natural to walk side by side," she says - the stance is a testament to Bey and Jay's emotional connection: "The lower halves of their bodies are entirely in sync, and while one could say Jay-Z's hand is holding Beyoncé back, the smile on her face suggests she's enjoying the moment - even her toes look relaxed." While Jay-Z's grip could be a possessive gesture, Cobb continues, "it's like he's saying, 'I got you, don't go anywhere.' It's strange, but it's not bad."
Jay-Z plants a hand on Bey's knee.
Here, the married couple quietly sits side-by-side with their attention divided. "It's OK to be in the same space as your partner without talking," Cobb says. "Jay-Z rests his hand on Beyoncé's lap to send the message, 'I'm thinking about you.' By touching his left forearm with her thumb and smiling, she's saying she's enjoying his touch."
They also appear to be crossing their legs toward each other - a good sign, since the alternative is using your lower-body limb to block your partner.
Jay-Z man-spreads into Bey's seat.
"You can tell he's comfortable and confident based on the way his legs are crossed in a figure-4 shape, which shows off his package and pleasure zone," Cobb says. "With his right hand, he's bringing his wife's knee closer, which sends a message to the world, 'She's mine, she's taken. Back off - look, but don't touch.'"
"Although Beyoncé doesn't seem to reciprocate with a lot of touch, she doesn't seem uncomfortable receiving it," Cobb says, adding that she simply may be hyper aware of her public image and more affectionate behind closed doors.
Jay-Z touches Bey's calf.
"Their expressions are a direct reflection of one another," Cobb says. "This means they both felt something, and their bodies reacted the same way, which shows an emotional connection."
Cobb also notes the way Jay-Z subtly strokes the back of his wife's calf. "It's not socially acceptable for just anyone to touch a person there, so it's definitely intimate and romantic," she says. "It's like touching her through her clothing wasn't sufficient, which suggests there's some kind of electric current between them."
Jay-Z holds Beyoncé around the waist.
"He's supporting her physically and figuratively," Cobb says of the way Bey leans against her husband with full-body contact. "There has to be a high level of comfort, trust, and love to allow someone to hold you from behind, because you can't see what they're doing - especially when they're holding you around the middle near your pleasure zone."
As she drapes her hand over Jay-Z's and flirtatiously attempts to catch his eye, Bey's beaming smile shows she's loving the embrace, according to Cobb. "It's like she's saying, 'I'm really digging this, and I'm really digging you,'" she says.
Beyoncé smiles at Jay-Z.
"Look at the excitement on her face!" Cobb says, pointing out signs the singer's smile is for real: She's showing her teeth, engaging her cheeks, and squinting her eyes. Comparatively, Jay-Z's big smile is deceiving: "The corners of his hips aren't pulled out enough for a full smile - maybe he was moving in that direction?" Cobb says, noting the way he extends his arm to hug as Bey sort of ducks out of his embrace - another potential marker of dissonance.
"It's atypical for her to shy away from his touch," Cobb says, writing off this exchange as circumstantial.
Beyoncé leads the way.
Here, both Beyoncé and Jay-Z walk side-by-side and lead with the same leg - a sign, according to Cobb, that they're on the same page emotionally. Interestingly, Bey's hand is on top. "Whoever's hand is on top tends to have the power in the relationship. It's not good or bad since it depends on what kind of power balance makes any given couple happy," she says, adding that there are times when each partner takes initiative when you're dealing with a power couple.
Bey and Jay-Z lean in to each other.
"Jay-Z is leaning his head on her really intimately and affectionately," Cobb says of the way Jay-Z nestles in. "Draping his arm around her shoulder also brings her closer."
In the photo, Bey keeps her hands to herself rather than reaching out to touch her husband. But she still leans into him and crosses her right leg over her left, making way for his foot, according to Cobb, who's convinced Bey is perfectly fine with her husband's behavior.
The couple shares a stage kiss.
"This isn't a real romantic kiss," Cobb says, noting the way they're both holding microphones and merely resting their hands on each others' shoulders, rather than passionately pulling each other in. "That's not to say they don’t have intimate kisses elsewhere, but this kiss, in the context is awkward," she says.
Jay-Z holds Bey's neck.
"Holding your partner by the neck when you could have touched their back is really awkward and possessive," Cobb says, noting the way a person can control his or her partner's movements by applying pressure to the sensitive area. "I can't say that's what he's doing, and it's not necessarily negative, but it's clear he's using touch to show possession here." Meanwhile, Beyoncé appears to be keeping her distance rather than returning his touch, although her reaction is impossible to discern without seeing her face.
Jay-Z takes the lead.
Although the couple's palms aren't touching, which signifies a connection and the desire to be close to each other, this could be a circumstance of awkward positioning, according to Cobb. "Interlacing your fingers is still the most intimate way to hold hands," she says. This time, Jay-Z's hand is on top, suggesting he was taking the more dominant role in their relationship when this photo was taken. "He's physically leading the way and taking charge, focusing on something besides his wife since he's not looking back at her."
The Bottom Line:
"Jay-Z is more touchy-feely than Beyoncé - it's the way he shows love and affection for her in public," Cobb says. "You can't make a conclusion about whether a couple is having problems based on photos alone, but it does give me pause that touch appears to be so important to him, and she just seems to allow it without actively initiating it."
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