Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage has opened up about the dramatic shift in public opinion she faced following her divorce from Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun in 2018. In a candid conversation on Spotify’s Receipts podcast, the singer shared how her fairy-tale rise to stardom turned sour after the highly publicized breakup.
“When I started, I was Nigeria’s sweetheart,” Tiwa said, reminiscing about the early days of her career. “I could do no wrong in the eyes of Nigerians. I followed all the rules—you know, went to university, got married, and had a baby. I did everything in the ‘right’ order, and people adored me for it.”
But the love story between Tiwa and the public took a dramatic turn after her divorce. Following her ex-husband’s decision to make their split public, she became the target of widespread criticism.
“He announced the breakup online, and suddenly I was the one being attacked,” Tiwa revealed. “I had a newborn baby, I was dealing with postpartum depression, and my body wasn’t the same. But instead of support, I faced judgment. People were blaming me for everything. It was so tough because, while everyone was rushing to comfort him, very few people checked on me.”
The backlash escalated when she decided to speak out about her side of the story. “I did an interview to address what happened, but it only made things worse,” she explained. “People said things like, ‘How dare you talk? You’re a woman, you should have held your home together. It’s your fault.’ The judgment was unbearable.”
Even some influential figures in the entertainment industry weighed in, urging her to stay silent. “I remember some prominent people calling me, telling me I’d ruin my image by speaking up. It was heartbreaking how quickly public support vanished,” she added.
Since then, Tiwa has chosen to remain tight-lipped about the situation, focusing on her music and reclaiming her narrative. “That experience taught me a lot about people and public perception,” she admitted.
Despite the painful chapter, Tiwa Savage continues to rise as a global music icon, using her voice not just to entertain but also to inspire resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
