Photo: AKA / Twitter
Photo: AKA / Twitter
One of SA’s best-known musicians continues to plummet from grace this week: AKA – real name Kiernan Forbes – has dropped out of a major upcoming festival this month, and all other planned live appearances will now be cancelled.
Confirmed: AKA has cancelled his future live appearances
AKA is in the mire, after his partner Nelli was found dead in April. Sympathies have since turned to anger, after video footage emerged of the rapper trying to break down a door to get access to his then-fianceé.
Forbes has been accused of perpetrating gender-based violence, and his public stock has been in freefall ever since. Therefore, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the hit-maker has decided to exclude himself from all major gigs on his schedule. The Huawei Joburg Day is set to be a star-studded event – but they’ll have to cope without the Supa Mega.
Forbes to ‘step back from spotlight’ due to social pressure
On behalf of his management team, AKA has released a statement on the matter. He confirmed that the ‘social conversation about him in public’ has been a major factor behind these cancelled performances. The artist will now take time out to ‘carry out self-introspection and healing’ – raising concerns about his own well-being.
“Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes is to withdraw his participation at this installment of Huawei Joburg Day, taking place on 28 May. Out of respect for (the) current social conversation about him in the public domain.”
“AKA has chosen to take the necessary timeout of self-introspection and healing – so that he can adequately address all the pertinent issues in due course. He feels it is important to look after his physical and emotional well-being.”
The T Effect Management team, on behalf of AKA
- You can also read the full statement here
Statement regarding @akaworldwide's participation at the 2021 #HuaweiJoburgDay pic.twitter.com/w3ieSmrUUi
— ???? AFRICAN_RAP_CITY ????????™ (@Rap_City_SA) May 12, 2021
