Nigerian music sensation, Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems, recently opened up about the harrowing experience of receiving death threats following unfounded pregnancy rumors.
The Grammy-winning artist was catapulted into the eye of a social media storm after her appearance at Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2024 London Fashion Week show. Adorning a sleek black dress, accessorized with a purple fluffy coat and matching heels, speculations ran rife, fueled by the attire’s form-hugging silhouette, suggesting the songstress was pregnant.
In an exclusive interview with The Beat 99.9 FM, Lagos, Tems disclosed that she was bombarded with direct messages on social media, with some questioning the involvement of American rapper Future, who was wrongly linked to her alleged pregnancy. Contrary to the rumors, she clarified that she has never crossed paths with the renowned rapper, despite their collaboration on the Grammy-winning track, ‘Wait For U’ alongside Drake.
Expressing her disbelief, Tems shared, “When I heard [the rumors] that I was pregnant, I didn’t actually think anybody believed it. I didn’t know it was serious until I started getting messages like death threats, like, ‘How dare you? Of all the people in the world, Future, really?’ And I’ve never met him in my life. So it’s crazy.”
Amidst the chaos, Tems also unveiled her aspirations of venturing into music video direction, expressing a keen interest in directing a video for fellow artist Asake, whom she admires for his artistic prowess. Emphasizing that her admiration is solely professional, she conveyed, “I love him. I can tell that he is very artistic. Just for work, just to direct his [music] video.”
The revelation from the talented singer sheds light on the perils of unfounded rumors in the digital age, underscoring the challenges faced by public figures in navigating the tumultuous waters of social media scrutiny. Tems’ candid account serves as a poignant reminder of the repercussions of reckless speculation and cyberbullying, resonating with individuals navigating the complexities of modern-day fame and misinformation.
Tems’ courage in speaking out against the tide of baseless rumors stands as a testament to the resilience of artists amid adversity, offering an inspiring narrative of triumph over unfounded adversity.
