By Prosper Mene
Nigerian singer and songwriter Simi (Simisola Kosoko) has broken her silence amid intense online backlash following the resurfacing of several old tweets from her early social media days, particularly around 2012 when she was 23 years old.
The controversy erupted after Simi publicly advocated against rape and sexual assault in recent posts on X (formerly Twitter). She emphasized the prevalence of sexual violence, stating that “almost every woman I know personally has been sexually assaulted at some point,” urged men to hold peers accountable, and called for harsh punishments for rapists, including demands that they be “castrated and burnt alive.” Her comments gained traction amid broader discussions on rape culture in Nigeria, partly linked to a now-discredited rape allegation by TikToker Mirabel, which Simi had initially amplified before the story was exposed as fabricated.
Critics quickly dug up and shared years-old tweets, accusing her of hypocrisy or inappropriate content. Some resurfaced posts reportedly included lighthearted or casual remarks about children from her time assisting at her mother’s daycare, describing kids as “cute,” “adorable,” or “mischievous,” and mentioning wanting to hug, kiss, or cuddle them, which some netizens reinterpreted as concerning in today’s context. Other tweets allegedly involved flirtatious or edgy humor common in early Twitter eras, including references to celebrities.
In response, Simi addressed the issue directly on her social media on Sunday, clarifying that she had been made aware of the old posts and felt compelled to speak out. She stated:
โI havenโt been on twitter today โ but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention and I canโt not address it.ย Nothing I tweeted was from perversion. Iโve always spoken against rape and sexual assault even before you knew I existed. It’s not a costume I’m wearing, it’s who I am.ย What I canโt let anyone do is twist my story to fit false narratives.โ
She described the tweets as immature jokes or observations from her younger years, unrelated to any depraved intent, and noted that some posts had been deleted due to their sensitivity, particularly for her family. Simi reiterated her unwavering stance against sexual violence, insisting that her advocacy is genuine and longstanding, while acknowledging growth over time.
The situation has divided opinions online, with supporters arguing the tweets are being taken out of context and weaponized to undermine her anti-rape message, while detractors question her past comments and handling of false accusation discussions. The controversy has also reportedly impacted related figures, including her husband Adekunle Gold, with mentions of drops in streaming numbers amid the backlash.
Simi maintains that the core issue, ending sexual violence remains unchanged, concluding variations of her message with a firm call: “Stop raping women.” The episode highlights the challenges public figures face when past online activity collides with current advocacy in the fast-moving world of social media scrutiny.
