One minute you can be the darling of South African Afropop, shooting music videos in the streets of Jozi and pushing up the price of Stylos. The next you’re being discarded like a wet cloth just because you decided to say your piece on social media.
It must be hard being Tyla. The Water singer may have found herself out of favour with mzansi online users after she was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards.
Just as soon as voting opened for the public, X users (formerly Twitter) said they would not vote for Tyla after the singer voiced her support for Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina.
The model and law student became the target of online bullying while vying for the Miss SA crown and was forced to withdraw from the beauty pageant.
As a show of support for Adetshina, Tyla took to social media. “Disappointed that this happened to her, but wish you all the best girl. Kill it!” she wrote.
“I will always stand with South Africa, I just feel regardless of the opinions … She was bullied and that’s what I don’t stand for.”
Chidimma went on to clinch the Miss Universe Nigeria title over the weekend, but South Africans can’t seem to get over Tyla’s betrayal and voiced their disdain on X.
X user @uuniversalmusic got fellow netizens pumping their chests when they wrote: “Tyla claims to have more Nigerian fans than South African fans.
“Let the ‘Nigerians’ vote for her.
“A slap in the face on South Africans that supported her from Day 1, Keep your vote its ‘Xenophobic’!
“The support you people gave Tyla was for Nothing!
“She’s being controlled!”
Tyla claims to have more Nigerian fans than South African fans.
Let the “Nigerians” vote for her.
A slap in the face on South Africans that supported her from Day 1, Keep your vote its “Xenophobic”!
The support you people gave Tyla was for Nothing!
Shes being controlled! pic.twitter.com/AYdJtDS55j
— UNRULY UNIVERSAL ♞ (@uuniversalmusic) September 2, 2024
When a Tyger (Tyla fan) asked for proof of Tyla’s supposed Nigerian fans’ claim, @uuniversalmusic said the singer deleted her post.
I knew you sounded like a slave. You don’t know what’s real and what isn’t. The Stockholm Syndrome is definitely there.
— IAm (@IamItAll5551) September 3, 2024
“She’s just echoing what her Nigerian handlers told her to say,” commented an X user.
Another said: “Vote for Tyla because when water is over her international career is over. then she can just be an African artist.”
While some agreed with the initial post, Tyla fans came out to defend their home girl. @Sanele96657854 wrote: “Y’all want her to fail so baddddd.
“She dropped the best African album of the year. The album has multiple hits.
“Also, one big song doesn’t make or break an artist.”
Y’all want her to fail so baddddd.
She dropped the best African album of the year. The album has multiple hits.
Also, one big song doesn’t make or break an artist.
— Sanele Gumede (@Sanele96657854) September 2, 2024
Words: Fame Frenzy
