A lot of people like it when there is something to keep their tongues busy, especially when it’s negative. Whenever a celebrity makes headlines for all the wrong reasons, busy bodies will be out jollying about it, bashing the characters in question in harsh frenzies both online and offline.
Often, fans are the very perpetrators of trolling against celebrities. In the course of the bashing, some celebrities will take a backseat, keep off social media and minimise their public appearances. Social media influencers, who often get involved in these funks, always take to their platforms to iron out things.
A fortnight ago, fashion designer Shiyenze Khasoha was put on the spotlight after it was alleged that she had conned people off their money after she claimed she had ovarian cancer —something that has been termed as a falsehood. She later issued a statement, as her way out of the controversy, insisting that indeed she had cancer. But netizens didn’t have any of it as the search for the truth continued.
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YouTuber-cum-radio presenter Elodie Zone, posted videos replying to her audience’s trolls regarding her assumed proud and rude attitude. On the videos, she gives a narration about how she was brought up and why she is the way she is. This was to appease her online family and quell the pressure that comes with having to put up with a positive reputation.
Lifestyle and travel vlogger Natalie Tewa also did a video on her nasty break-up with ex-boyfriend Moses Rnaze. “I hope you guys can understand that relationship has ended and we have to move on. It was good while it lasted and unfortunately it ended on a very bad note…” she explained.
The rationale
The so-called celebs are incresingly devising ways to redeem their tainted images. As online personalities run to their social media channels, other celebrities look for other means to regain compromised repute from the fans .
Early this year, gospel artistes Hope Kid and DK Kwenye Beat were in the middle of a sex scandal that tarnished their reputations. Even after singer Size 8 had a sit-down with DK to give him a listening ear, it still didn’t go down well with his legion of fans and it seemed weird for mainstream media to host guest with questionable characters.
Milele FM presenter Chris The Bass, who recently hosted Hope Kid on his show says: “I knew for a long time that no one wanted to listen to them (Hope Kid and DK) or host them on their shows, but I did.”
“When the scandal broke out, it was tough for me. I lost everything. During that time, I rode solo. All the ‘friends’ I thought would reach out, did not and I got to find out who my true friends really were. My reputation was damaged and no one really wanted to listen to what I had to say,” says DK.
He says everyone wanted to run with the scandalous tale and not want to verify details. “At the end of the day, we know that people are in business and it is their job to tell it all, but I thank my church and the people that mentor me for standing by me. It really helped me,” DK says.
Public condemnation
Hope Kid said: “Even getting my music on air was an issue. I remember being chased away from a church where we were scheduled to perform. I never got to perform and the pastor in charge asked me to leave the premises. No one wanted to hear us out.”
Chris says it is hard for such artistes to get their right of reply.
“When I host them, I get to see them for who they are. We all know for a fact that controversy sells and the truth is boring, but at the end of the day, these people are people just like you and me and need to be heard out,” he tells Spice.
