‘Too many people lying on my name': Tyla claps back at haters during her São Paulo performance

During her performance in São Paulo, Tyla confronted online critics and the backlash surrounding her identity, while killing it on stage. 

For about a week, it’s been an online rollercoaster with comments and opinion pieces about Tyla’s talents flooding the X (formerly Twitter) timelines.

Tyla recently took the stage in São Paulo, Brazil, during a performance, to address critics. Amid performing her hit song “Mr Media”, she said, “Too many people lying on my name.”

The South African star called out those who have been spreading false narratives about her career and identity.

The backlash comes after a resurfaced interview on "The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne tha God". In the interview, Tyla was asked to clarify past comments about identifying as a “coloured”. 

In South Africa, the term refers to people of mixed-race heritage, but in the United States, it is widely regarded as an offensive slur. 

She opted not to answer the question and deferred to her team, who said she will not be engaging in the matter. By then, it was already blown out of proportion, and many black Americans did not understand her stance.

They felt that Tyla missed the opportunity to connect with the black American audience since then and have cited it as one reason her recent EP “We Wanna Party” sold only 4,000 copies. 

Some argue that not clarifying the term, which carries a different meaning in the United States, affected her connection with the community.

Despite the criticism, Tyla has received support from artists like Cardi B, who condemned online bullying and the tendency to tear down artists.

Tyla’s performance in São Paulo gave fans a chance to focus on her music away from all the noise. She performed hits including “Is It”, “Mr Media” and “Art”, showcasing the lively energy she is known and loved for.

The show was part of H&M’s Brazilian debut and the release of the “Beats of Brazil” campaign. The campaign featured Brazilian stars like Gilberto Gil, Anitta, Carol Trentini, and Agnes Nunes, highlighting the country’s diverse culture and creative voices.

“H&M’s arrival in Brazil has been highly anticipated, and we couldn’t imagine doing it any other way than by celebrating the Brazilians.

“We had the chance to truly understand what makes Brazil such a unique, inspiring country, and the campaign is an exact result of that,” said Jörgen Andersson, H&M’s Chief Creative Officer.

Earlier this year, the 23-year-old singer and her sister Sydney Seethal also appeared in H&M’s spring/summer 2025 collection alongside FKA Twigs and Caroline Polachek.

The Seethal sisters showcased the vibrant and playful “Festival-Ready” collection, celebrating femininity, individuality and women’s strengths. 

H&M described the mood as a subtle and dreamy nostalgia blending past and present, with a diverse group of inspiring women at the heart of the campaign.