Simi addresses resurfaced 2012 tweets amid online backlash

Nigerian singer-songwriter Simi, born Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, has responded to online criticism following the resurfacing of tweets she posted more than a decade ago.

The controversy erupted after the singer made a forceful statement condemning rape in the wake of a sexual assault allegation involving TikTok personality Mirabel, who later withdrew her claims.

In her reaction to the broader issue of sexual violence, Simi had stated that rapists should be “burnt and castrated,” a comment that sparked mixed reactions across social media platforms.

As debates intensified, some users revisited the singer’s old posts on X (formerly Twitter), uncovering tweets from 2012.

In the resurfaced posts, Simi had described interactions with a four-year-old child who allegedly had a “crush” on her and was “acting like he wana loc lip.” In another tweet, she joked about the child “trying to put hand inside my shet (sic).”

Addressing the issue on her X page, the singer clarified the context of the tweets 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 not address it. Fourteen years ago, I was 23, so I was definitely not a child. I’m not here to make excuses because I don’t have anything to make excuses for. What I can’t let anyone do is twist my story to fit false narratives,” she wrote.

READ ALSO: Singer Simi faces backlash after TikToker admits to false rape allegation

Simi explained that at the time, she was living with and assisting her mother at a daycare centre while pursuing her music career. According to her, she frequently shared everyday experiences on social media, as was common practice during that period.

“In 2012, I lived and helped out at my mom’s daycare while hustling my music. I tweeted everything that happened in my life, as we all did at the time. Kids can be mischievous. If a child did something I found funny, I tweeted about it. Kids are cute and lovable. I want to hug, kiss, and cuddle them. I tweet about it. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion,” she stated.

She further noted that she was not a public figure at the time and did not anticipate that her posts would later be subjected to widespread scrutiny or reinterpretation.

“I was not famous then, so maybe if I was, I would have understood that anything is open to interpretation, including being used falsely by a faceless mob. I’ve never been depraved in my life. You can retweet all the tweets in the world about me loudly crushing on people I admired or being a cheeky young woman. I wasn’t trying to hide it, because I have nothing to hide,” she added.

The singer acknowledged that some of the old tweets have since been deleted, citing consideration for her family. However, she maintained her long-standing opposition to sexual violence.

“I have always spoken against rape and sexual assault, even before you knew I existed. It’s not a costume I’m wearing, it’s who I am. I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I’ve never claimed to know everything. I said stop raping women. I stand by it,” she concluded.

The development has continued to generate debate online, with supporters defending the singer’s clarification while critics maintain concerns over the language used in the resurfaced posts.