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‘I Never Denied my Blackness,’ Tyla Says As She Clarifies Identity Controversy Following iHeartRadio Interview

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South African singer Tyla addressed the controversy surrounding her racial identity after her recent appearance on iHeartRadio’s “The Breakfast Club” sparked debate. The issue stemmed from a December 2023 video where the “Water” singer described herself as a “Coloured South African,” leading to confusion and backlash, especially among American audiences.

During her interview with “The Breakfast Club,” co-host Charlamagne Tha God brought up her previous comments, asking Tyla to explain why she identifies as “Coloured.” Tyla’s representative intervened, requesting the question be skipped, which only fueled the ongoing conversation.

Tyla took to social media to clarify her stance. On X (formerly Twitter), she stated, “Never denied my Blackness, idk where that came from. I’m mixed with Black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian, and Coloured. In South [South Africa], I would be classified as a Coloured woman, and in other places I would be classified as a Black woman. Race is classified differently in different parts of the world.”

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She emphasized that while she does not expect people outside South Africa to identify her as “Coloured,” she understands the different connotations the term carries globally. “But to close this conversation, I’m both Coloured in South Africa and a Black woman,” Tyla concluded, ending her statement with the Zulu word “Asambeee,” meaning “Let’s go.”Tyla

Tyla’s identity became a topic of debate after she broke into the American music market. According to BBC, the term “Coloured” is considered offensive in the United States, despite being a standard racial classification in South Africa. This disparity led some Americans to believe Tyla was denying her Black heritage.

In an April interview with Cosmopolitan, Tyla reiterated, “When people are like, ‘You’re denying your Blackness,’ it’s not that at all. I never said I am not Black. It’s just that I grew up as a South African knowing myself as Coloured. And now that I’m exposed to more things, it has made me other things too. I’m also mixed-race. I’m also Black. I know people like finding a definition for things, but it’s ‘and,’ not ‘or.'”

As Tyla continues to navigate her rising fame, she remains committed to educating her global audience on the nuances of racial identity in South Africa, fostering understanding and bridging cultural divides.

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