Popular Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, widely known as Simi, has addressed growing backlash over resurfaced social media posts from 2012, insisting that her old tweets have been taken out of context and misrepresented.
The controversy emerged shortly after the singer made a strong statement about sexual violence, asserting in a recent post that nearly every woman she knows has experienced sexual assault at some point in their lives. While many social media users supported her remarks, others pushed back, triggering heated exchanges online.
As the debate intensified, some users on X began circulating tweets Simi had posted more than a decade ago. The resurfaced messages, which referenced children in a casual tone, drew criticism from certain quarters and prompted calls for clarification.
In a detailed statement shared on X, the singer said she felt compelled to respond after being alerted to the old posts.
According to her, the tweets were written in 2012 when she was 23 years old, long before she gained mainstream fame. At the time, she explained, she was living at home, assisting her mother in running a daycare centre while also working to build her music career.
Simi stated that her posts reflected everyday interactions with children and were never intended to convey anything inappropriate.
“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 wrote.
She firmly rejected allegations suggesting otherwise, stressing that she would not accept attempts to distort her words or attach false narratives to her past.
“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 stated.
The singer also reflected on how her perspective might have differed had she already been a public figure at the time, acknowledging that she may not have fully grasped how social media posts could later be reinterpreted or weaponised.
“I was not famous, so maybe if I was, I would have understood that anything is open to whatever interpretation, including being used falsely by a faceless mob,” she added.
Maintaining that she has never engaged in inappropriate behaviour, Simi emphasised that she has always been expressive online, often openly sharing her admiration for people and everyday experiences without ulterior motives.
She further disclosed that members of her team had begun deleting some of the old tweets due to the emotional toll the renewed scrutiny had taken on her family. Although she initially resisted removing the posts, she said the sensitivity of the situation influenced the decision.
“My team has been deleting some of my tweets because of how sensitive it is for my family. To be honest, I did not want to,” she noted.
Reaffirming her longstanding position against sexual violence, the singer stressed that her advocacy predates her rise to fame.
“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,” she declared.
Concluding her statement, Simi stood by her original comments condemning sexual assault, while acknowledging her imperfections.
“I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I’ve never claimed to know everything. I said stop raping women. I stand by it.”