By Kaya 959 News
South African rapper, AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, has defended himself against allegations that he played a part in his girlfriend’s alleged suicide.
AKA issued a statement on Saturday saying that it was sad that he had to speak to the nature of his and Anele Tembe‘s relationship.
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 8, 2021
“What makes it even sadder is the knowledge that some of the people, she and I loved & entrusted with our deepest troubles, are now using those as weapons to set a negative narrative on my character,” AKA shared in a statement posted on his social media pages.
READ: Lala kahle: Nelli Tembe’s cousin shares emotional tribute
Beautiful, yet challenging relationship
Describing himself as a passionate and emotional person, AKA said he will not stand by and watch people try to disparage his and Tembe’s character to suit a narrative that neither he nor Tembe signed up for.
“We enjoyed a beautiful yet challenging relationship that at times was tumultuous, like all relationships. Made worse by the pressure of being in the public eye, which we too played up to,” he said.
AKA said as numb as he was at Tembe’s funeral, he took in every word spoken, including those filled with innuendos.
“I will not be a part of speaking on or exposing our troubles as a couple, to defend myself from one-sided views that are portrayed out their full context. Every story has two sides and so does every video, image and message,” AKA expressed.
READ: ‘I knew Kiernan loved my daughter; says Anele Tembe’s father
Not a suspect
He said he was fully aware of the ‘sources’ engaging media and their intentions, which he said is to influence the police’s inquest.
“I have not been named a suspect but have been nothing but a cooperating witness,” he said.
AKA said he owns up to his past and current traumas and is undergoing psychological and spiritual counselling for his benefit and growth.
“I hope everyone affected by Anele’s traumatic passing does the same for themselves, individually and collectively, so that we may all afford her spirit the rest she deserves and come to terms with the choice she made that fateful morning of 11 April, ” he said.
DIsturbing pictures and video released
It is suspected that AKA’s statement was in relation to a series of photographs that have since surfaced on social media showing his breaking a door in their apartment on March 13.
According to a News24 report, Tembe had locked herself in the room to hide from the rapper.
A source claimed that AKA had assaulted Tembe and she locked herself in the room to get away from him. The source, a close friend of Temebe’s, said AKA then punched through the door in order to get to her.
Tembe fell to her death from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.
Her funeral was held at the Durban International Convention Centre last month. Speaking at her funeral service, her father, Moses Tembe, said he was not convinced that his daughter was suicidal.
“As Anele’s father, I hereby state categorically that Anele was neither suicidal nor did she commit suicide,” he said.
Police confirmed that an inquest has been opened.
