Body language expert reveals how Jay-Z shows 'respect' to 'supportive' mother-in-law Tina Knowles - while she puts a 'protective arm' around her daughter Beyoncé during first family public appearance since rapper's rape allegation

Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles threw her support behind her family at the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere in Los Angeles on Monday evening. 

The 70-year-old matriarch — who says her Instagram was hacked after she appeared to like an Instagram post reporting that son-in-law Jay-Z was accused of gang-raping a 13 year-old girl with Diddy — stuck by her family as shockwaves reverberate amid the jaw-dropping bombshell.    

Body language expert Judi James analysed their interaction on the red carpet, pointing out it was a very supportive and united outing. 

She told MailOnline: 'It's not uncommon for a wife to perform a PDL (Public display of loyalty) when a star is the subject of accusations but a mother-in-law is another level of support.

'Tina's poses with both her daughter and in the family line-up suggest a desired projection of unity and strength and the formation of the line-up in particular looks telling.'

Judi explained that Tina was being 'protective' when it came to her daughter: 'Standing with her daughter, there are support and affection gestures between them and then confirmation, reciprocal responses used. 

'Tina puts a protective, bonding arm around Bey's waist and Bey places her own hand on top of her mother's and then Bey's hand on Tina's shoulder is covered by Tina's hand in a rather mannered-looking gesture to emphasize the point of caring and support. Tina's chin is raised and that and her smile give a look of strength and even defiance.'

Meanwhile, when it came to Jay-Z posing alongside Tina it was all about showing her 'respect'. 

Judi added: 'In the group photo it's Beyoncé splaying her arms to encompass both her husband and her daughter, showing family team bonding. But Jay-Z's pose is primarily focused on Tina here. 

'He even has his hand that is closest to Beyoncé placed in his pocket but his free arm around his mother-in-law, a gesture that she reciprocates, making her singled out for a ritual of closeness and respect.

'While Jay-Z's sombre suit and unsmiling facial expression makes him appear more uncomfortable than the other three, Tina, Beyonce and Blue Ivy are all wearing beaming social smiles and eye-catching, glittering outfits to provide not just a contrast but an injection of pure, 'business as usual' red carpet glamour.'

The fashion designer, who is mom to Beyoncé, 43, and Solange , 38, with ex-husband Mathew Knowles , 72, said in a message posted to her Instagram account Monday: 'I was Hacked! As you all know I do not play about my family. So if you see something uncharacteristic of me just know it is not me.'

Tina added in the caption, 'Please stop playing with me!!!! "No weapon formed against my family shall prosper."'

The post liked by her account was shared via @abc7Chicago and was captioned: ' Breaking news : Jay-Z, Diddy named in lawsuit alleging rape of girl, 13.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to representatives for Tina Knowles and Jay-Z's Roc Nation for further comment on this story.

Knowles, 70, has not commented in public about the bombshell accusation against Jay-Z, real name Shawn Corey Carter, who is the father of her three grandchildren.

A source told Dailymail.com Monday, 'Tina liked the post accidentally and quickly removed the like once close friends pointed the error out to her.

'She has known Jay since he was in his 30s and doesn’t believe he is capable of committing such an evil crime. She is standing by Beyoncé and will support whatever decision she makes.'

Jay-Z has denied the attack the victim claims took place at a VMA's afterparty in September 2000, while an unidentified female celebrity watched.

The anonymous victim previously referred to Jay-Z as 'Celebrity A' in the bombshell filing , with the female star accused of watching anonymized as 'Celebrity B.'

This made Jay-Z the first celebrity to be named alongside Diddy in one of the myriad lawsuits filed against Combs. Both rappers have denied all allegations.

The accuser said she was assaulted at a party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards , which took place September 7, 2000 at New York City 's Radio City Music Hall.

In the lawsuit, she said she took a drink at the afterparty which had 'a reddish-yellow mixture that tasted like orange juice, cranberry juice, and something bitter' and 'began to feel woozy and lightheaded, making her need to lie down.'

She said she laid down in 'what appeared to be an empty bedroom', until Combs, Jay-Z and a female celebrity referred to as 'Celebrity B' entered the room.

'Combs aggressively approached Plaintiff with a crazed look in his eyes, grabbed her, and said, "You are ready to party!"' legal documents read.

The accuser said Combs threw her 'toward a wall,' leading her to fall, then 'grabbed her again and threw her on the bed.'

She said Jay-Z began stripping her down 'as she grew more and more disoriented' and held her down as 'he vaginally raped' her, while Combs and Celebrity B watched.

'After [Jay-Z] finished, he stepped back toward the wall. Combs then stepped forward and vaginally raped Plaintiff while Carter and Celebrity B watched,' the document reads.

The lawsuit had initially been filed in New York's Southern District this past October against Combs, with a refiling on Sunday which identified Jay-Z.

Knowles' initial social media move was spotted by eagle-eyed followers, while others pointed out that the 'like' could have been a mistake.

Later Monday, after she distanced herself from the 'like' on the post, some of Tina's 4.1 million followers expressed skepticism in regards to her explanation.

'How you get hacked and they only liked one post??' said one user.

Another pointed out, 'Hackers will hack every celebrity in the world but they refuse to hack the student loan system.'

One user asked Tina, 'You have a whole PR team and this is what you guys come up with.'

One user said, 'Mama we know you liked without realizing it ... it’s okay.'

Others were supportive of the show biz matriarch as she navigated the troubled waters.

Multiple users said that Tina doesn't 'play about her family,' with one user, saying, 'CLOCK THEM TINA.'

Beyonce and Jay-Z have been an R&B power couple for more than 20 years. They got married in April 2008, and by April 2014, they had sold a combined 300 million records together.

They share three children together - Blue Ivy, 12, and six-year-old twins Rumi and Sir Carter.

But their relationship was rumbled in the early days by rumors that Jay-Z had cheated on her with his protege, Rihanna, and there was speculation that they went on a break for a time in 2005.

Jay-Z admitted to cheating on Beyonce in a New York Times interview published in 2017, but didn't say who the betrayal was with.

Beyoncé has not been implicated in any of the Diddy lawsuits.

Jay-Z, 55, issued a blistering response to the lawsuit via DailyMail.com , accusing the victim of attempting to 'blackmail' him.

The rapper claimed he feared that his three children with Beyoncé would have to 'endure' harassment in the wake of the allegations.

Jay-Z said he is especially worried about Blue Ivy. He is afraid she will face questions from her friends about the lawsuit. The couple also share twins Rumi and Sir, seven.

'My only heartbreak is for my family,' Jay-Z told DailyMail.com on Sunday.

'My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.'

Jay-Z said he mourned 'yet another loss of innocence' and declared that his 'children should not have to endure' the graphic accusations at their young age.

'It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit,' he said.

Tony Buzbee, who is representing the alleged Diddy victim from the 2000 VMA's afterparty along with more than 100 others, also named Jay-Z as the celebrity who allegedly 'filed a frivolous case under a pseudonym' against their legal team.

The Texas-based attorney claimed Jay-Z has 'tried to bully and harass' him and his client over the incident said to have happened at a 2000 VMA's afterparty - but this has backfired by 'emboldening' them to take the case to court.

'Regarding the Jay-Z case and his efforts to silence my clients: Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm,' Buzbee said in a statement. 

'He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him. 

'Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation. Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. 

'His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve. As far as the allegations in the complaint filed, we will let the filing speak for itself and will litigate the facts in court, not in the media.'

For all the latest updates on this story, listen to The Trial of Diddy - available wherever you get your podcasts now.