AWARD-WINNING rapper AKA, whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, has pulled out of the Joburg Day event.
This was announced by artist management company, The T Effect, which released a statement on his behalf announcing his withdrawal from the event, which is set to take place on 28 May.
According to the statement, AKA, who recently lost his fiancee Anele “Nelli” Tembe after she fell from a hotel building in Cape Town, said his decision to pull out of the event was because he needed to do some self-introspection and healing.
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“Mr Forbes informed the team that at this time, he would like to take time out to focus on his current state of mind and out of respect for the public sentiment, as he prepares to engage on those,” said the statement, released on Wednesday.
“The hip hop megastar has elected to take a step back from the musical eventing space because he is currently in a space where he feels it’s necessary to place a greater emphasis on looking after his physical and emotional well-being.
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“Furthermore, out of respect for current social conversation about him, in the public domain, he has chosen to take the necessary time out for self-introspection and healing so that he can adequately address all the pertinent issues in due course,” the statement continued.
In the statement, AKA also expressed his gratitude to 947 for their understanding after pulling out at the last minute.
“I would like to thank 947 and the entire Joburg Day team for understanding and giving me this continuous opportunity to do what I love. I look forward to working with them again in the future,” he said.
Him pulling out of the event also follows reports that the pair were abusive towards one another and videos of the pair were leaked to the media.
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In one of the videos that has caused a stir, the late daughter of Durban businessman Moses Tembe can be heard saying: “Get away from me. You don’t know what he has been doing to me”, while a man is trying to calm her down while she’s crying.
In another video, Anele can be seen sitting in the bedroom with her hands on her face rocking back and forth, while AKA can be heard speaking in the background of the video.
But responding to the leaked videos and images, AKA said the allegations against him are to influence the inquest that was opened after Anele’s death.
“I’m fully aware who the ‘sources’ engaging media are and what their intentions are, which is to influence the police inquest – which the investigating officer has stated numerous times to my legal team and to them that I, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, have not been named as a suspect, but have been nothing but a co-operating witness,” he said.
He further said it saddens him that people, whom he and his late fiancee entrusted with their deepest troubles, are using them as weapons against him.
