Keri Hilson says Ester Dean was behind the 2009 “Turnin’ Me On (Remix)” that took shots at Beyoncé on the low.
Hilson stopped by The Breakfast Club on Wednesday (April 9) and denied writing the verse about Beyoncé, even though she caught heat for it. The R&B singer-songwriter claims she wrote a completely different version of the remix, but was pressured by her producer Polow the Don, who she was also signed to, to record a pre-written remix instead. While claiming she was “forced” to record the track, Hilson wouldn’t name the songwriter, saying she wanted to shield them from the BeyHive’s wrath.
“I had to eat that and I am still eating it to this day,” Hilson told The Breakfast Club hosts. “Because I’m getting asked about that 15 however many years 16, 17 years later, it’s like I’ve worn the scarlet letter, really.”
On Instagram, singer-songwriter Ester Dean jumped into the conversation, boldly standing by the verse before offering an apology. Just two years after “Turnin’ Me On (Remix)” leaked, Dean would go on to receive co-writing credits on “Start Over” and “Countdown” from Beyoncé’s 4 album.
But in her apology, Dean claimed that she “submitted a lot of verses for that remix.” “One got picked, and it was co-written with Keri. Looking back, it was childish and didn’t age well,” Dean wrote. “I see how it hurt people, especially women, and take full accountability.”
But in the comments section, Hilson strongly denied having co-written the verse at all.
“You used the word co-wrote. I RE-wrote 3 lines in your verse,” Hilson fired back. “Which was the ONLY battle I won in the whole matter. But you weren’t there when all this was going down, and we didn’t write it together.”
Hilson also pointed out that she wrote the song’s “softest section,” which was, “Been getting dollars boy / Gone get ya money up / No you ain’t the only homie on me, line up.”
“Because not only did I strongly disagree with the unnecessary hateful sentiments towards other women, and I’ve never been a fan of the publicity stunt method,” she added.
Before urging readers to watch the complete Breakfast Club interview, Hilson called out Dean for choosing “to stay quiet for 16 years.” “But coming out only now, when you felt a portion of the heat I’ve gotten all this time.”
Also during the interview, Hilson discussed healing after the “Turnin’ Me On (Remix)” drama and mentioned that Beyoncé briefly introduced herself at an awards show. The two singers eventually had a conversation about the track, which Hilson revealed in 2021, describing it as a “healing moment.”
