Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has shared her painful experience of how public opinion shifted dramatically after her divorce from Teebillz in 2018.
In a recent interview on the Receipts podcast on Spotify, she reminisced about the immense support she enjoyed from Nigerians when her career began, through her marriage, and the birth of her son. Savage expressed, “When I first started, I was embraced as Nigeria’s sweetheart.
I was viewed positively because I followed the right path: going to university, getting married, and then having a child. Everyone admired me until everything changed.” After the highly publicized split, Tiwa felt a noticeable shift in how people perceived her.
Despite her ex-husband publicizing the divorce, she faced blame and criticism. “I began receiving hate on social media and from certain individuals. He announced it online, and even though I didn’t initiate the breakup, I became the target of negativity. At that time, my baby was only a few months old, and I was struggling with postpartum issues and depression.
While many supported him, only a handful reached out to me.” Tiwa explained that her attempts to clarify her side of the story only exacerbated the situation. “After I tried to share my perspective, the backlash intensified. People were saying things like, ‘How dare you speak out?’ and ‘As a woman, it’s your responsibility to keep the family together; it’s your fault.'” She also mentioned that even well-known figures advised her against publicly discussing her experience, warning that it might harm her reputation.
“I remember receiving calls from famous individuals who questioned why I would even consider sharing my story, insisting I’d never come out on top. Since that time, I made a decision not to talk about the situation anymore because it was incredibly painful to see how the public reacted.”
Story by Obaapa Janee
