Tol Ass Mo. Image via X @iamRTI
Tol Ass Mo issues apology to black women for distasteful remarks
‘The person who made those statements was not the person I recognise as myself’: Tol Ass Mo regrets his remarks.
Tol Ass Mo. Image via X @iamRTI
TV personality Tol Ass Mo, real name Mongezi Mahlangu, has issued an apology for his disparaging utterances about black women in July last year.
DIVORCING MOME AND BEING TRAUMATISED BY BLACK WOMEN
The comedian and sangoma – who made headlines for announcing he was divorcing his wife, Mome Mahlangu, at the time – told broadcaster DJ Fresh that black women traumatised him.
“It’s me that’s walking away, Fresh… I am f**ken traumatised. I am traumatised by black women. I’m traumatised to a point that I don’t want to have a black wife again,” he said last year about his marriage of 11 years.
Months later, Tol Ass Mo and Mome rekindled their love.
Tol Ass Mo’s remarks came after model and actress Lerato Moloi accused him of raping her when they were working on a television production in Paarl, Western Cape. A statement released by Moloi in 2020 revealed that the alleged incident took place in 2014.
The court ruled in Tol ASS Mo’s favour, and he was acquitted of sexual assault in August 2022 and threatened to sue the model for slander and defamation as the court described her as “a dishonest, egotistical and a belligerent liar.”
TOL ASS MO’S APOLOGY
In Tol Ass Mo’s statement, he referred to the allegations, revealing that they affected his mental health. He explained that during his vulnerable state, he spent time with a family member who controlled his medication and wrongfully advised him to leave his family.
“It is with great regret that I acknowledge the hurtful and confusing statements made during this period, including my alleged disparagement of black women. I want to make it unequivocally clear that such comments do not reflect my beliefs or values. The person who made those statements was not the person I recognise as myself, but rather a manifestation of the illness and the disorienting circumstances I was in,” Tol Ass Mo said.
“This statement is an appeal for understanding and, I hope, forgiveness. I recognise my behaviour, influenced as it was by my mental health struggles and trauma, caused significant distress and disappointment. For this, I am truly sorry. My commitment is to healing and to making amends to those I have wronged. I am dedicated to regaining the trust and respect of my community, acknowledging this will require time and demonstrated change on my part.
“In closing, I strongly urge for our people to be self-aware, confront mental health issues, and never give up. Let us treat ourselves with kindness and be wary of deceptive behaviours as we cannot fully understand the impact thereof and the depth of another’s pain. I am earnestly working towards becoming a better version of myself, one I can be proud of and who contributes positively to the fabric of our society.”
