Award-winning Afrobeat singer Burna Boy has stirred up controversy by mocking South Africans following the crowning of a Caucasian woman, Mia Le Roux, as Miss South Africa.
This event followed the withdrawal of Nigerian model Chidimma Adetshina from the pageant.
Adetshina, a 23-year-old Law student with a South African mother and a Nigerian father, initially won the Miss South Africa pageant. However, her victory faced backlash as South Africans questioned her citizenship and authenticity. An investigation by South African Home Affairs revealed a potential identity theft issue involving Adetshina’s mother, leading to her withdrawal from the competition.
Mia Le Roux, the new Miss SA, became the first winner with a cochlear implant and a significant disability to participate in the Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico. She received a host of prizes including a luxury apartment, a Mercedes Benz, and R1 million.
In response to the outcome, Burna Boy took to Twitter (now known as X), where he mocked the situation, noting with several laughing emojis how a South African contestant did not win despite the controversy. His tweet sparked mixed reactions, with some South Africans criticizing him for holding a grudge over his recent cancelled show in the country.
One critic wrote,
Burna Boy hasn’t forgiven South Africans for not buying tickets to his last show.” Meanwhile, some defended him, with comments like, “Wetin Burna Boy don smoke again?” and “Cook them.”
In another recent social media update, Burna Boy addressed his critics, including Twitter personality Daniel Regha. After Regha posted a photo of his meal, Burna Boy commented, “Na you suffer pass. No shades,” referencing Regha’s usual critiques of him.
This follows earlier statements from Burna Boy where he clarified that he does not use songwriters, only producers and featured artists are credited on his songs. He further asserted that the Western industry credits producers as writers, which he highlighted in his public announcement.
Burna Boy has also been active in sharing his thoughts on personal growth. He recently tweeted about his internal conflict, expressing that the “new me misses the old me” and that the old self finds the new version too soft for not being as angry. Fans responded positively, recognizing his growth and advising him to stay happy.
Also Read: Burna Boy Denies Using Songwriters, Sparks Controversy
