Nigerian singer Simi addresses backlash over resurfaced 2012 tweets

Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has responded to criticism triggered by the resurfacing of tweets she posted in 2012, insisting that her stance against sexual violence remains unchanged.

The old posts began circulating online shortly after the singer publicly condemned rape culture amid social media debates surrounding an alleged sexual assault case involving a TikTok user identified as Mirabel. The renewed attention drew mixed reactions, with some critics questioning the tone of her past comments.

In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Simi said she became aware of the trending tweets after they had already attracted widespread reactions. She explained that at the time the posts were made, she was 23 years old, living with her mother and assisting at her mother’s daycare centre while pursuing her music career.

She maintained that her tweets reflected everyday experiences, including humorous and affectionate remarks about children at the daycare, and rejected suggestions of inappropriate intent.

“I haven’t been on Twitter today, but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention and I can’t ignore it. In 2012, I lived and helped out at my mum’s daycare while hustling my music. I tweeted everything that happened in my life at the time. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion. I have always spoken against rape and sexual assault, and I stand by that,” she wrote.

The singer said her team had begun deleting some of the tweets due to the sensitivity of the situation for her family, though she initially did not want them removed.

Reaffirming her advocacy, Simi stressed that her condemnation of rape and sexual assault predates her fame and is not influenced by public opinion, adding that she has never claimed to be perfect but remains firm in her call against sexual violence.