South Africa mourned the loss of entertainment legend Mbongeni Ngema, but the somber occasion was marred by a social media blunder. Somizi Mhlongo, a well-known celebrity, found himself in hot water after sharing what he claimed to be a heartfelt thank-you message from Ngema.
However, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that the message was actually an outgoing message from Mhlongo’s own phone.
The embarrassing revelation led to a barrage of criticism and accusations of dishonesty. Somizi, realising his mistake, swiftly deleted the post, but the damage had already been done.
In an attempt to salvage the situation, Mhlongo posted another video, but it was met with disdain from fans who felt deceived. The incident left many questioning the authenticity of the initial tribute and calling Somizi out in the comments section.
The WhatsApp chat, which Somizi shared, depicted Ngema expressing gratitude for Mhlongo’s support during a difficult time. The message claimed that Somizi was Ngema’s favourite among all his children and thanked him for his unwavering kindness.
While it’s understandable that Somizi may have wanted to pay tribute to a beloved figure, his choice to fabricate a WhatsApp chat only served to tarnish his own reputation. The incident serves as a reminder to all public figures that honesty is always the best policy, especially in moments of grief and remembrance.
Have a look at the chat below:
Why is Somizi sending himself WhatsApp texts and pretending they are from Mbongeni Ngema 👀 pic.twitter.com/KWW6fBk31u
— 🦍 (@Tdker) December 28, 2023
