Tyla may be riding high off her breakout success, but behind the viral moments and music accolades, the South African star is still adjusting to the intense scrutiny that comes with life in the public eye.
In a revealing chat with KISS XTRA, Tyla opened up about how overwhelming it’s been to have every move analyzed.
“For a while, I just felt like, damn, relax,” she said around the 8:50 mark.
“Y’all gonna analyze every little thing I do?”
Although the constant attention initially made her uncomfortable, the “Water” singer has since learned to embrace it.
“I kind of had to get used to people just being interested,” she continued.
“Now I realize you have to do what you want, do it the way you want, and everyone’s going to have their own take on it—and that’s okay.”
Tyla Faces Controversy Over Her Identity
Tyla has had to navigate more than just music headlines. A resurfaced 2020 TikTok video drew criticism when she identified herself as a “Coloured South African,” explaining that she comes “from a lot of different cultures.”
In a 2024 Breakfast Club interview, Tyla sidestepped direct questions about her racial identity. The moment stirred fresh controversy, prompting her to later clarify her heritage on X (formerly Twitter):
“Never denied my Blackness, idk where that came from,” she wrote.
“I’m mixed with Black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian, and Coloured.”
The post was her attempt to explain the complex nature of identity in South Africa, a country with a deeply layered racial history.
The VMA Moment That Sparked a Viral Reaction
Tyla’s Best Afrobeats Video win at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards became another hot topic, not because of her speech, but because of how she handled the iconic Moon Person trophy.
After receiving the award from Lil Nas X and Halle Bailey, Tyla joked:
“Oh my gosh. You guys know me and holding awards. I am not strong enough.”
When Halle didn’t take the award, Lil Nas X swooped in to help. But the seemingly innocent moment triggered an internet frenzy, with some users accusing Bailey of shading Tyla.
Tyla quickly shut that down with a tweet:
“Y’all make everything weird… I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls, STFU I WON A VMAAAA.”
Bailey echoed the love, resharing Tyla’s post and writing:
“Exactly 💕💕 Love u babes, congrats.”
Learning in Real Time, and in the Public Eye
Earlier, Tyla shared more about the challenges of rising fame in a Los Angeles Times interview, revealing the emotional toll of her fast-paced journey.
“It’s been scary, because not only did my life completely change, I’m in a different country and so many things are different culturally that I’m still trying to navigate,” she said.
“I’m learning in front of the world. When I make mistakes, it’s going to be a thing that everyone sees… I didn’t expect it to be this hard.”
Still Rising
Despite the missteps, misunderstandings, and media spin, one thing is clear: Tyla is forging her path with honesty, grace, and an unwavering focus on her music.
Whether she’s holding trophies or holding her ground, Tyla is showing the world that she’s here to stay, and she’s doing it on her own terms.
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