This past week, Tyla sparked some online chatter after asking Halle Bailey and Lil Nas X to hold her award at the MTV Music Video Awards. Tyla won the Best Afrobeat Song award for her hit track “Water.” When she went up to accept it, she was clearly looking for someone to help her out by holding the award.
The award was presented by Halle and Lil Nas X, and what happened next was a funny little moment. As Tyla walked on stage, Halle handed her the envelope but playfully avoided holding anything herself. Tyla, not wanting to hold anything either, jokingly asked someone to hold her award, saying, “You guys know me, I’m not strong enough to hold these things. Please, please!”
Thankfully, Lil Nas X stepped in and held it for her. Tyla even made a lighthearted comment like, “This is why we need men!” Despite the playful vibe, some viewers found the exchange a bit awkward, especially when it looked like Tyla first expected Halle to take the award. Halle, however, just smiled and said, “No, girl, I’m not doing that.”
Both Halle and Tyla later cleared things up, reassuring everyone that there was no drama or shade involved. It was just a funny, spontaneous moment, and definitely not as serious as some people made it out to be.
I’ve heard the Moonman award is surprisingly heavy. Olivia Rodrigo even had someone hold hers because it was too much for her to carry in one hand. She joked, “It’s so heavy! I literally have no upper body strength. Thank you, Lil Nas X! Oh my gosh, it’s beautiful!”
Given how heavy the award is, I can understand why Tyla wasn’t ready to hold it. Apparently, this isn’t the first time she’s asked someone to hold one of her awards. She’s even said before, “This is very heavy. Can you please hold it for me?” It sounds like Tyla just doesn’t have a lot of upper body strength, which makes it hard for her to manage.
But is that really a reason to dislike her? Some people got upset when she asked for help, and now there’s a rumor circulating that she’s stuck up or acting like a diva. There was also a moment where she was called out for staring directly into the camera during Megan Thee Stallion and Yuki’s performance of “Megan Mushi.” People thought she was being shady. But the whole time, Tyla was actually dancing and singing along with the performance. She probably just didn’t like the camera in her face. Still, that moment felt off to viewers, and now she’s going viral for what people are calling a snooty attitude.
YouTuber Armon Wiggins recently sparked controversy by calling Tyla an “entitled uppity African,” which she found offensive enough to mention in her bio. I understand that Armon likely didn’t mean to be hurtful, but his comment definitely missed the mark.
Tyla, who has mixed heritage, identifies as “Coloured” in South Africa. In that country, Coloured people often have different social advantages compared to Black Africans. This might lead some to perceive her as having a sense of superiority, though that’s not necessarily true. Her actions have fueled this perception, with several instances raising eyebrows.
One notable incident was when she reportedly snubbed South Africa’s Minister of Arts and Culture, grabbing her Grammy away when he tried to take a picture with it. Another controversial moment happened on The Breakfast Club, where she avoided questions about her race and other topics, going viral for her responses.
During that interview, when asked about the debates surrounding her identity, Tyla responded, “School me on these debates that they be having about your identity as a South African Coloured person. What does that even mean?” She also commented, “Oh, I like that. We’re keeping that in the interview too,” which left some viewers confused about her attitude and perspective.
They didn’t want us to ask about why she’s no longer touring with Chris Brown. They didn’t want us to touch on the color controversy. They didn’t want us to bring up her recent injury. And, of course, they didn’t want us probing into her dating life, though honestly, I wouldn’t do that anyway. Oh, and comparisons to other pop stars—apparently, they didn’t want any of that either.
With all the drama surrounding her recent interview on The Breakfast Club and now the VMAs, people are starting to think Tyla is just full of herself and maybe not very likable.
But here’s the thing: I genuinely believe Tyla is quite misunderstood. She comes from a different culture—she’s South African—and I don’t think she’s fully adjusted to Western pop star norms yet. She might not be completely aware of what’s expected in the industry. Most likable pop stars have to navigate this tricky balance: they need to seem humble, carry their own awards, be gracious in interviews, and be respectful towards their peers. They play the industry politics well. Sure, they can have personality, but they can’t come off as too full of themselves.
It’s a fine line they have to walk. When they cross it, people are quick to call them out. We saw it with Ariana Grande early in her career, when people thought she was being a diva. Doja Cat faced criticism for her attitude at one point. Now, Ice Spice and Chlöe Bailey are also getting called out for allegedly having bad attitudes.
If an artist doesn’t stick to the unwritten rules of pop star etiquette, they’ll face backlash. The only way they can avoid it is by proving themselves and building a solid career. But if they’re new and seem to be acting entitled, people will definitely take notice—and that’s what’s happening to Tyla right now.
I know Tyla’s personality might not be for everyone. She’s bubbly, extra, and super confident—she knows she’s pretty, and she’s not afraid to show it. Personally, I don’t mind that kind of confidence. I actually admire people who are sure of themselves and, yeah, a bit cocky if they’ve got the skills to back it up. If you’re great at what you do, own it!
But I can see how some people might find her personality a bit much and think she’s acting like she’s all that when she’s just being herself. Some folks will like her, and some won’t—that’s just how it goes. She’s being true to who she is.
Switching gears, let’s talk about Lil Wayne.
Lil Wayne is pretty upset about not getting to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. Kendrick Lamar was chosen to headline next year, and I think Kendrick is going to do an amazing job—he definitely deserves it.
Still, a lot of people feel like Lil Wayne should have had that spot, especially since the show is in his hometown, New Orleans. He’s been really vocal about wanting to headline and even had talks with Jay-Z about it. Despite all that, he wasn’t picked, and it’s clear he’s pretty disappointed.
“That hurt. It hurt a lot. You know exactly what I’m talking about—it was a deep blow. I blame myself for not being ready for the disappointment, for kind of just assuming that spot was mine as if someone had promised it to me. I take responsibility for that. I thought there was nothing better than that stage, that platform in my city. So, yeah, it hurt a lot. But you all have been amazing. Not getting this chance made me feel terrible, but your support reminded me that I’m not alone in this. You’ve helped me pick up the pieces, and I’m just trying to put myself back together.”
That’s what Wayne had to say, and it’s clear he’s struggling with it. Some people think maybe he wasn’t chosen because his recent performances haven’t been his best, and that Kendrick had a more impressive year, making him a more fitting choice. I agree that Kendrick deserves it too.
But let’s be honest—there are a lot of talented artists out there, not just in hip-hop but also in country and pop, who would be great headliners for the Super Bowl halftime show.