Nigerian singer, Simi, has addressed the resurgence of several old tweets that recently sparked widespread criticism on social media.
The controversy emerged amid intensified online scrutiny following the singer’s outspoken stance against rape culture and the ongoing debate surrounding rape allegations involving Mirabel. Social media users dug up posts from more than a decade ago, triggering heated discussions and backlash.
In a statement shared online, Simi clarified that the tweets in question were written 14 years ago when she was 23 years old. According to her, they reflected her daily experiences at the time, when she was living with her mother and assisting at her daycare while pursuing her music career.
“I haven’t been on Twitter today – but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention and I can’t not address it,” she said. “14 years ago, I was 23, so I was definitely not a child. I’m not here to make excuses because I don’t have anything to make excuses for. What I can’t let anyone do is twist my story to fit false narratives.”
She explained that in 2012, while hustling her music career and helping out at her mother’s daycare, she frequently tweeted about her everyday life. She maintained that her posts were innocent observations about children she found cute or mischievous, stressing that there was nothing inappropriate about her intentions.
“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 tweet about it. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion,” she stated.
Simi also reflected on how fame has changed the way her past statements are interpreted, noting that as a public figure, her old posts are now subject to broader and sometimes distorted scrutiny.
“I was not famous, so maybe if I was, I would have understood that anything is open to whatever interpretation including being used falsely by a faceless mob. I’ve never been depraved in my life,” she said, adding that she has never attempted to conceal her personality or past expressions as a “cheeky young woman.”
Addressing the deletion of some of the tweets, Simi disclosed that her team had begun removing certain posts due to their sensitivity for her family, although she initially resisted doing so.
“My team has been deleting some of my tweets because of how sensitive it is for my family. To be honest, I did not want to,” she said.
Reaffirming her position on sexual violence, the singer emphasized that her advocacy against rape and sexual assault predates her rise to fame.
“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 said stop raping women. I stand by it,” she stated.
The renewed attention also drew comments from music producer Samklef, who recently called for an apology from Simi’s family, claiming he contributed to laying the foundation of her early career.
Simi’s response aims to clarify the context of her past posts while reiterating her long-standing opposition to sexual assault, as conversations surrounding the matter continue across social media platforms.
Credit:Vanguard
