SA rapper, AKA reacts to reports of ‘violence and drugs’ in his relationship with late fiancée, Nelli Tembe
South African rapper, AKA issued a public statement in response to reports of alleged “violence and drugs” in his relationship with his late fiancée, Nelli Tembe.
The statement comes after News24 shared images where “AKA can be seen using his hands to violently break down a wooden door to enter the bedroom in their apartment in Bryanston, Johannesburg where Tembe was hiding”.
A close friend of Tembe, who spoke with the publication, stated that Tembe told her that the rapper smashed her face against a wall during a fight in their apartment after which she locked herself in the bedroom.
“She then sent me the video of the attack. AKA is so violent in the video that he breaks down the door of the room that Anele had locked herself in, whilst escaping his blows, with his bare hands. This is an attack that I want women to be shielded from.” the woman, who requested anonymity out of fear of intimidation, wrote in a statement to News 24.
The incident allegedly took place on March 13.
On Saturday afternoon May 8, AKA released a statement on Twitter, describing his relationship with Tembe as “beautiful, yet challenging, and saying he would not be drawn into exposing their troubles as a couple to defend himself against “one-sided views”.
He also slammed allegations that “drug use and incidents of violence” plagued the couple’s relationship, labelling the reports an “attempt to disparage his name and Anele’s character”.
“What makes it even sadder is the knowledge that some of the people, she and I loved and entrusted with our deepest troubles, are now using those as weapons to set a negative narrative on my character.
“I am a passionate and emotional person. What I will not do and stand for is watching people attempt to disparage my name and, importantly, Anele’s to suit a narrative we both never signed up for,” said AKA.
Read in full below,
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 8, 2021