Afrobeats singer Simi has responded to criticism over old tweets from 2012, insisting that the posts have been misinterpreted and unfairly used to push a misleading narrative.
The tweets, which recently resurfaced, drew attention in the context of Simi’s outspoken stance against sexual assault and the ongoing social conversations surrounding the Mirabel rape allegation.
In a Sunday night post, the singer explained that at 23, she had been balancing her budding music career while working at her mother’s daycare centre. The tweets, she said, were simple updates about her daily interactions with children.
“In 2012, I lived and helped out at my mom’s daycare while I was hustling my music. I tweeted everything that happened in my life, as we all did at the time. Kids can be mischievous. If a child did something I found funny, I tweeted about it. Kids are cute and lovable. I want to hug, kiss and cuddle them. I tweeted about it. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion,” Simi stated.
She acknowledged that she is not perfect but stressed that her words from youth should not be twisted to create false narratives. Simi also noted that her team has been deleting certain tweets out of sensitivity for her family.
“I have always spoken against rape and sexual assault even before you knew I existed. It’s not a costume I’m wearing, it’s who I am. I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I’ve never claimed to know everything. I said stop raping women. I stand by it,” she added.
The controversy has reignited discussions online, with some users calling for more caution in past and present online content, while others defend Simi’s right to express herself freely.
The backlash coincides with remarks from music producer Samklef, who recently urged Simi’s family to issue an apology, claiming he played a role in laying the foundation of her early career.
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