Ester Dean Breaks Silence After Keri Hilson Drama, Admits to Writing Beyonce Diss

Ester Dean is opening up about her role in writing Keri Hilson‘s controversial ‘Turnin’ Me On’ remix.

As reported, Hilson revealed that she was forced to release the 2011 track, which featured a line clearly aimed at Beyonce. A line the songbird was adamant she didn’t even write.

Dean would step forward to reveal herself as the mystery songwriter. Now, she’s explaining more about her role after a spat with Hilson online.

Full story below…

In a lengthy post shared on Instagram, she wrote:

“Open Letter from Ester Dean

“For Keri. For Creatives. For The Record.”

I’ve stayed quiet for a long time, but I believe in telling the truth – especially when the internet starts telling its own version of the story.
Back in July 2008, I started working with Polow Da Don in Atlanta. Later, I moved to Los Angeles to write for Polow’s artists over at Interscope. I wasn’t famous. I wasn’t chasing clout. I was in the studio – day and night – writing 3 to 4 songs a day. No friends. No family. Just work. Whenever the studio was open, I wrote. When Polow called, I showed up. That’s who I was.

Turning Me On Remix

One night, Polow asked me to write a remix verse for Keri Hilson – something street, something for the culture. He left the room, and I sat there trying different ideas until I landed on these lines:

“I shot the sheriff… but wait ’til I shoot these b*tches, down down. Shoot these b*tches, down
down.”…and…

“Your vision cloudy if you think that you’re the best.

You can dance, she can sing, but she need to move it to the… (don’t do it, Em) She need to go have some babies, she needs to sit down, she fading.”

Tacky? Yes. Forced? No. That was me. I wasn’t in the room with Keri writing this together. I didn’t know her personally. She was already a star. I was just a writer trying to earn my place. I did my job and left. Keri came in another time and wrote her own verse –

Know
Been had dollars boy
Go-on get your money up
her pen, her voice:
you I ain’t the only homie on me lined up
I ain’t turnin it off I’m stay turnin it on
Go-on and tell these folks how long I been writing your songs
I been puttin you on, just check the credits ho And if you want me, you can find me in Decatur,
ho Cause you’re turnin me off”

I went on to write on both of Keri’s albums. She even showed love and did a cameo in my Drop It Low video. I even came on stage with her once. But life took us in different directions, like it often does.

For the record – I didn’t work with Beyoncé until years later when I signed to Roc Nation as a writer. There was no “plot.” No “beef squad.” No secret industry mission. Just writers writing. Artists being artists. People trying to win.

Keri was already massive. She didn’t need saving. She was out here making history.

Why Speak Now?

Because while our stories may look similar now, back then they weren’t. Keri was speaking on big platforms I didn’t have access to – and it was her story to tell, not mine. I stayed writing. No hate. No shade. Just truth.

What Keri went through was sad. She’s a great artist, a beautiful spirit, and she deserves grace.

She took her lessons. I’ll take mine. Respect always.
– Ester Dean”