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OPINION | No, AKA! You don't get to call anyone a 'moffie'

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AKA. (Photo: Getty/Gallo Images)
AKA. (Photo: Getty/Gallo Images)

UPDATE, Friday 20 March:

Since publishing this article AKA has released the following statement on Twitter: "I'd like to apologize to anybody offended by my use of the word 'Moffie' in a previous tweet. At some point, i thought it wasn’t a big deal to use this word. I understand now that it’s not acceptable. (sic)

"However, when I lose my cool, I tend to lose it spectacularly. I feel like I’ve been baited for a while now and I want blood. I hope people can forgive me for such a epic failure of judgement and hot headedness. (sic)"

He also added: "Sometimes your idiot self gets the better of you."


Herman Eloff, Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor of News24, calls out AKA on his Twitter tirade filled with homophobia. 

There's a painful pang that shoots through my chest when the word "moffie" is used. An uncomfortable flush of humiliation spreads from my fingertips to my face. The word sends a jolt to my brain that always triggers a painful memory of being bullied at school.

The word is used to degrade men and ostracise them from the fraternity of manhood. It's an ugly and highly derogatory term weaponised to shame others.

Just last week the hashtag #CalledAMoffie was trending on social media with the release of the film Moffie by director Oliver Hermanus in which the toxicity of masculinity and the incredible destructiveness of the word "moffie" was carefully and thoughtfully unpacked. Men from all over the entertainment industry revealed their harrowing journeys to adulthood branded with a homophobic word that left deep scars.

As I watched the videos and listened to the stories, many of which were similar to my own, I promised myself I would never be quiet again when I see that word being used. So, here I am – in the middle of a global pandemic – holding a celebrity accountable for using the word "moffie".

ALSO READ: Marc Lottering, Armand Aucamp, Pieter-Dirk Uys on being 'called a moffie'

Sorry Mr. Untouchable but you don’t get to use the word "moffie" to spread your toxic masculinity on Twitter while challenging a fellow muso to a fist fight. The word "moffie" is in no instance harmless "slang" that you, a heterosexual male, get to throw around without consequence.

It all started when AKA on Thursday challenged fellow South African musician Cassper Nyovest to a boxing match as the tension between the two artists seem to have reached fever pitch. There's always been a lot of beef between AKA and Cassper in what seems to be an amalgamation between a dick-measuring contest and a need for public attention and publicity.

The local rapper has used his platform multiple times in the past to lure the media into reporting about his fights, breakups, and meltdowns just to reveal it was all part of his game to get attention. So, when his most recent Twitter tirade started trending, I rolled my eyes. Not now. Not while we're facing one of the biggest global disasters in modern history.

But no, AKA was up to his old tricks and firing at full force. His target had been identified and he was throwing punches left, right, and centre. This time it was some kind of showcase of masculine superiority that would involve a physical fight. I guess we're back in the age of the gladiator. Fight to death.

I was going to let it slide, until I saw his thoughtless and non-chalant use of the word that has been hanging over me like a shadow my whole entire life. "Not a chance. Just tell pony boy to sign and stop being a moffie," he tweeted, referring to a contract he wants Cassper to sign which will see them climb in a boxing ring and physically go at each other.

Not getting the response he wanted from Cassper, AKA added: "Nyt nyt. Tag his bitch ass all day ... tell him to sign and stop being a moffie."

It was a low blow. Even for AKA.  

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