“It is overdue to show South Africa once and for all that women matter! We want justice for Nellie!” @womenforchangesa wrote in a very recent Instagram post demanding South African rapper AKA (Kiernan Forbes) be muted on all radio stations, Spotify and Apple Music, as well as Youtube Music. The organisation also demanded that his endorsements with Cruzvodka be cancelled too.
View this post on Instagram
This want for rapid cancellation comes as the result of recent video footage which shows the rapper displaying alleged violent behaviour. Essentially, AKA broke down a door upon which the late Anele Tembe was on the other side.
The thought catalogue with which @womenforchangesa’s latest cancellation proposal runs is in line with putting an end to gender-based violence, particularly in SA.
However, the internet, particularly Twitter, is showcasing mixed reactions to do with the hashtags like #kiernan, #cancelAKA and #muteAKA which embody cancelling the rapper. Some people are defending AKA, saying that we don’t know why he broke into the room in that way. Others are linking their arguments back to another video of an incredibly distressed Anele who seemed distraught and said “you don’t know what he’s been doing to me.”
WATCH: Nellie “you don’t know what he’s been doing to me”
Anele: “… you don’t know what he’s been doing to me” pic.twitter.com/MJXkI6muis
— Mrs Jackson (@MathabaJorge) May 9, 2021
WATCH: AKA breaks down the door
The images alone show how violent AKA is. Breaking a door like that is quite something pic.twitter.com/dkaa36BtEY
— ? Free ? (@tshepo87) May 9, 2021
While there are many supporting the cancellation of the rapper, concurring that his violent behaviour led to terrible impacts on her mental health, there are others who are expressing that we still do not have the full story. The internet is showcasing a divide of sorts, and these are some opinions.
1.Those who are strongly backing cancelling him
Defend him again pic.twitter.com/7rkrg5IFO6
— ℤiphorator❼ (@ZiphoratorS) May 10, 2021
Personally I’m ready to cancel AKA. Who’s with me?#aneletembe#kiernan
— Lisakhanya (@SoSoLisa21) May 9, 2021
So wen are we canceling #kiernan? What else are we waiting for? Wen is Ciroc pulling the plug on their partnership? He didn’t push her off the 10th floor…. We can at least confirm Anele was abused by AKA.
Bonang Cassper Mohale Boity Somizi Nellie pic.twitter.com/2sj8xMdXQs
— Secretary of Black Twiitter (@Prince_SA2021) May 10, 2021
Cancel culture when are we canceling Kiernan? #CancelAKA
— Bheki (@Bhekifrombolt) May 9, 2021
#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA#CancelAKA
— Secretary of Black Twiitter (@Prince_SA2021) May 10, 2021
#CancelAKA pic.twitter.com/QHKiQeZA3y
— Jane Xaba (@IAmZulubone) May 10, 2021
#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall #AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall #AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall #AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall #AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall#AKAmustfall
— Dark_Berry ????? (@Phindi_SDlamini) May 10, 2021
#CancelAKA my fav must be cancelled.
He must serve his time like zitanga zakhe— ILoveAbel♥️ (@Mokibel47489653) May 9, 2021
2.Those who are equating his ‘violent’ behaviour to pushing her
Abusing someone who is going through depression is tantamount to pushing them off from a high building. The question is not whether she jumped or she was pushed, but whether there were contributory factors (like abuse) that exacerbated her suicidal behavior. #kiernan
— Tokyo Sexwale (@TokyoSexwaleSA) May 9, 2021
He may not have pushed her off the building, but he sure as hell was abusing her and played a role in her deciding to take her life #kiernan
— Katlego David Khaba (@DavidKhaba) May 10, 2021
I know lot of you are saying that we don’t know the full story. You all correct. But lemme tell you something. When women behave in this manner just know that we as “Men” have been provoking them continuously which results such act.
— ℤiphorator❼ (@ZiphoratorS) May 10, 2021
3. The divide against her ‘dramaticism’ vs ‘why aren’t you hearing her’
Look at what she’s doing? Very very dramatic. I would have made a video too…
— 031 (@ohthreeone) May 10, 2021
Why are you ignoring what she’s saying? Why are you failing to hear her?
— Lu†endo Magoro (@LutendoMagoro) May 10, 2021
#kiernan exactly bro https://t.co/0d0MhyPRo7
— malcom x (@Thapelo26168189) May 9, 2021
That’s my question as well because most people are saying Kiernan broke the door to save Anele but if Anele needed saving why would she sit and take a video of when Kiernan is breaking the door ? ?
— Kamo Marven (@kamo_marven) May 9, 2021
4. Those against cancelling/ showing support to AKA
ha ha ha ha there would be no cancellation of anybody and we not retweeting nonsense.
— Lonn (@LonwaboMfundisi) May 10, 2021
What people are doing to #kiernan on this Anele story is what they did to Sjava always jumping into conclusion… what we know as the public is as far as our eyes can see. Social media just adds fuel to the fire ? so painful ? pic.twitter.com/rIlZsnUi7c
— Tonyworldwide (@Tonyworldwide1) May 9, 2021
In my opinion #kiernan did not abuse #aneletembe
He stayed with her because a real man will not leave a woman in such a state. I think he tried to help but couldn’t. He broke through the door to save her from herself.Anele | kiernan | AKA |
— Your Homie Earn (@yung_earn) May 9, 2021
#kiernan
Leave people to their opinions and judgements, they can not harm you, it is their understanding that is faulty, not yours. pic.twitter.com/ZskTBsF0Qo— #Uni_Endla_Yini ? ??? (@cvp_theproblem) May 10, 2021
Innocent till proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, AKA is innocent!! Go ahead and bite my head off#aneletembe#kiernan pic.twitter.com/NsQwAElWI2
— Melusi Ntuli ? ?? (@NtuliRm) May 9, 2021
5. The food for thought that ‘Cancel Culture’ is selective
Lol if this was someone else ngeseku trender oo #WeBelieveHer#CancelAka SA cancel culture is so selective!!!!! https://t.co/FMr0OnDkO4
— Into engamameliyo (@noqatiko22) May 9, 2021
6. Twitter expressing themselves as the real detectives behind the case
So vele unemployed Twitter detectives are better than actual saps detectives.#aneletembe #Kiernan #anele pic.twitter.com/0sEwvYjbW1
— Jaguar Paw?? (@Mr_phreshbreeze) May 9, 2021
READ ALSO:
Footage released: AKA shown to be “violent”, he says he is “cooperative witness”
Picture: Twitter