Sicelo Buthelezi, the actor who has quickly become a household name in South Africa, recently found himself in a rather awkward situation.
Known for his role as Tobias “Tobby” Maswahla on the popular TV show Skeem Saam, Sicelo’s character is a mischievous university student. But what happens when fans can’t differentiate between the actor and his on-screen persona?
It all went down at an unnamed garage where Buthelezi was simply going about his day. In a tweet, the actor shared a rather unsettling experience where a fan greeted him by calling him the “Skeem Saam rapist.”
Just walked inside a garage and the guy standing next in line greets me like “Eyy ke wena rapist ya #SkeemSaam” kinda felt something inside hey 👀…I’m just an actor bro…
— SEEKAY (@seekay_sa) May 30, 2024
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Ouch! This comment clearly left Sicelo a bit hurt, as his tweet hinted at the discomfort and emotional toll of being judged for a character he portrays on TV.
The incident sparked a flurry of mixed reactions from fans and followers. While some expressed their outrage at the fan’s behaviour, others seemed to find the situation a bit comical, albeit in poor taste.
Bruh imagine a whole trolly
— SEEKAY (@seekay_sa) May 30, 2024
Eyyy nkos’yam 😭
— SEEKAY (@seekay_sa) May 30, 2024
And she killed that role, 🤞🏽🥹
— Bafedile🇿🇦 (@BafedileMakgam1) May 30, 2024
And you’re killing that rapist part,with your mom and the English😩 imagine Wallet as your stepfather🔥🔥
— Sharon✨🏳️🌈 (@mamporos345) May 30, 2024
Took me a while to understand why some stranger was in ur garage ..nxt time plz say gas station or something like it 😬
— Rhulani Mokwena fan (@NefariousCity) May 30, 2024
It’s a classic example of how the lines between reality and fiction can blur, sometimes causing real harm to those who bring these characters to life.
Sicelo Buthelezi isn’t just Tobias Maswahla; he’s an incredibly talented actor who has made a significant impact in the South African entertainment industry. However, being in the spotlight comes with its own set of challenges.
One of the biggest is dealing with fans who can sometimes forget that the person on screen is just playing a role. Let’s hope that this incident serves as a reminder for all of us to appreciate the art without letting fiction cloud our judgment of the real people behind the characters.
