Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has addressed criticism over resurfaced tweets from 2012, saying her old posts are being misinterpreted and do not reflect any wrongdoing.
The backlash followed her recent comments on sexual assault, where she stated that almost every woman she knows has experienced sexual assault at some point in their lives. While many supported her stance, others pushed back, sparking heated debate on social media.
As the conversation intensified, some users on X began circulating tweets Simi made more than a decade ago.
In a detailed statement shared on X, the singer said she felt compelled to respond after being made aware of the resurfaced posts.
“I haven’t been on Twitter today, but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention, and I can’t not address it,” she wrote. “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.”
Simi acknowledged that at the time she made the tweets, she was not a public figure and may not have considered how they could later be scrutinised or reinterpreted.
“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 said.
She explained that the posts were written in 2012 when she was 23 years old, living at home, helping her mother run a daycare, and working on her music career. According to her, the tweets reflected normal interactions with children and were never 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 stated.
The singer revealed that her team has begun deleting some of the old tweets due to the sensitivity of the situation for her family, though she initially did not want them removed.
Reaffirming her long-standing stance against sexual violence, Simi said her advocacy predates her 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 said.
She concluded by standing firmly by her earlier remarks: “I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I’ve never claimed to know everything. I said stop raping women. I stand by it.”
