Meet Jay-Z’s mother Gloria Carter: from a single mum in Brooklyn who worked 2 jobs, she became a philanthropist and the inspiration behind the song ‘Smile’ … but how did Jay react when she came out as gay?

Dec 12 , 2024

Meet Jay-Z’s mother Gloria Carter: from single mum in Brooklyn to philanthropist. Photo: @shawncartersf/Instagram

She raised her children on her own after their dad left the family when Jay-Z was 11; later she co-founded the Shawn Carter Foundation and married long-time girlfriend Roxanne Wiltshire

US music industry royalty Beyoncé, 43, and Jay-Z, 55, seem to have landed themselves in hot water by association. First, singer-songwriter Jaguar Wright made some explosive claims on Piers Morgan Uncensored, alleging that the two were a “nasty little couple” involved in abusive behaviour comparable to that of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Ironically (considering the name of the programme), these comments were then edited out of the interview, after Morgan was served with a “legal ultimatum” by the “Renegade” singer’s lawyers.

Next, videographer, producer and director Choke No Joke sat down for an interview with Hype+, blasting the 24-time Grammy winner for leaving Diddy’s side now that he’s in legal trouble, despite being chummy back in the day. “You see him get out here and defend his character? You see him say anything? But you see how close they were back then, right? Gang of video, that was his boyfriend allegedly, bromance rather. They had a bromance. So, where’s your support for your brother?” he said.

Now, Jay-Z himself is facing sexual assault allegations after the rapper, along with Diddy, was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl back in 2000, according to a civil lawsuit refiled earlier this month.

Jay-Z surprised his mother, Gloria Carter, with a performance by The Isley Brothers for her 75th birthday in September. Photo: @kandyisley/Instagram

In a lengthy statement released Sunday, Jay-Z clapped back at the allegations, calling them “idiotic” and “heinous in nature”. And the news certainly didn’t seem to stop Jay-Z and Bey from stepping out in style to support their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, at the Los Angeles premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King on Monday night.

Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy Carter attend the premiere of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, on December 9. Photo: EPA-EFE

All things considered, it seems as though controversy is nothing new for the 55-year-old hitmaker, who has repeatedly cited his mother as a source of support and inspiration over the years. So what else do we know about Gloria Carter, who inspired Jay-Z to pursue music and who the rapper considers his role model?

She raised Jay-Z as a single mother

Jay-Z and his mother Gloria Carter in November 2019. Photo: @shawncartersf/Instagram

Gloria Carter welcomed Jay-Z, aka Shawn Corey Carter, and his three older siblings – Eric, Michelle and Andrea – with Adnis “AJ” Reeves, who left the family when the “Empire State of Mind” rapper was 11. Filmmaker and producer Dream Hampton shared that the patriarch’s departure was because he was “consumed with the desire for revenge” after his brother was stabbed to death, per Rolling Stone. “That made him a bitter, evil, different guy,” added Jay-Z.