At a time when influential voices are needed to bring calm in a society ravaged by anarchy, the last thing fans of Mihlali Ndamase expected was the triggering tweet she posted and deleted.
Mihlali Ndamase tweets ‘loot Mercedes Benz’
The 24-year-old content creator, who recently received honours as a finalist in Forbes Africa’s coveted 30 Under 30 listing, found herself on the receiving end of backlash for a tweet she posted where she asks her followers, “when are we looting Merc?”
The tweet was quickly deleted but social media Sherlocks were first to take a screenshot of the post to immortalise it as a moment Ndamase will want to erase from her career.
Must be something in those makeup brushes or foundation because wow. Don’t tell me that she didn’t ask to be anyone’s role model as public figure you have an equal responsibility, that accompanies your fame and somethings should stay in your drafts. Please. pic.twitter.com/ElINe3p60Y
— Hazel Mahazard (@hazel_mahazard) July 13, 2021
Molemi ‘Jub Jub’ Maarohanye, in his statement to South Africa’s entertainment industry, was referring to ignorant acts of this nature when he called out celebrities for using social media to re-enforce their privilege on poverty stricken and unemployed people who may or may not have participated in the shutdown riots.
Moreover, businesses in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have lost billions in infrastructure and stock theft as a result of the riots and while some have defended Ndamase’s careless comments, many others found the tweet highly problematic and irresponsible.
Ndamase had not issued a response to the backlash at the time this article was published. These are just some of the reactions we picked out:
What Mihlali said instigates vandalism and looting, one of the wrongs that the President said will be punished. But because she is your fav we must turn a blind until it settles.
— SITHALE✍ (@SithaleKgaogelo) July 13, 2021
Mihlali must just know that this is no time for jokes ,, but am not surprised she has always been like that ..claiming to be be an influencer
— Pabi Dior (@Paballo_Thabete) July 13, 2021
Influence what looting ? .. let’s not defend stupidity ca pic.twitter.com/0cPNOM4SaD
There’s always a responsibility that comes with being a public figure. This thing of you guys asking,”She can’t joke coz she’s a public figure?” is dumb asf. Mihlali was just wrong
— Lamlani (@imlamlani) July 13, 2021
When you say celebrities and influencers must speak out always leave a room for the likes of Mihlali to embarrass themselves
— SITHALE✍ (@SithaleKgaogelo) July 13, 2021