Simi responds after resurfaced 2012 tweet sparks backlash

Nigerian singer Simi, born Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, has addressed the controversy following the resurfacing of a 2012 post from her account on X, formerly Twitter.

The old tweet, posted on March 14, 2012, referenced a four year old boy named David and described him as having a crush on her. In the now deleted post, she recounted the child getting physically close, acting as though he wanted to kiss her, and resting his head on her lap while she jokingly questioned whether she should give him attention.

The post recently went viral, drawing criticism from social media users who accused the singer of sexualising a minor and called for an investigation.

In a lengthy statement shared late Sunday, Simi said she became aware of the resurfaced tweets and felt the need to respond. She explained that she was 23 at the time and living with her mother while helping out at her daycare as she pursued her music career.

According to her, she often tweeted about everyday experiences, including humorous moments involving children, stressing that her comments were not rooted in any form of perversion.

She maintained that she has never engaged in inappropriate behaviour and rejected attempts to frame the old post within what she described as false narratives. The singer also noted that she has consistently spoken out against rape and sexual assault and continues to stand by her advocacy.

Simi added that members of her team have begun deleting some of the old tweets because of how sensitive the situation is for her family, although she initially did not want them removed.

In her statement, she said she has nothing to hide, emphasising that her tweets at the time reflected her personality as a young woman sharing everyday moments. She reiterated that she has always been vocal against sexual violence and remains committed to that stance.