SA Social Media Awards responds to backlash over Nara Smith’s Food Influencer of the Year nomination
|Published
THE South African Social Media Awards (Sasma) has responded after being criticised for nominating Nara Smith over Onezwa Mbola in the “Food Influencer of the Year” category.
The nominees for the 4th annual Sasma were revealed on Friday, August 4, at Kream Restaurant in Mall of Africa.
Smith, who lives abroad, is nominated alongside prominent South African food content creators and chefs such as The Funny Chef, Nompumelelo Nkosi, Fikile Zungu, Zola Nene, The Lazy Makoti, Keenen Bender and Siba Mtongana.
Since the nominees of the awards were shared online, social media has been buzzing. There has been backlash over Smith’s nomination with many saying she is not the best candidate.
Fans and some influencers have voiced their opinions, arguing that Mbola is more deserving of the recognition as a South African content creator, with some suggesting that her exclusion was a deliberate attempt to generate publicity for the awards.
@MissPetse said: “The Sasmas including Nara Smith in their Food Influencer of the Year category and not Onezwa Mbola is sooo messy!”
@wickieswrath said: “The Sasma seriously missed the mark by nominating someone who can’t even own up to their influences. How does Sasma recognise a chef who lacks originality? They seem more interested in giving opportunities to those who don’t truly represent us.”
@PhilMphela said: “I guess the Sasma learned a thing from Miss SA. Don’t miss an opportunity for free publicity. They knew nominating Nara Smith and snubbing Onezwa Mbola would create online furore. Rage bait much? Well, we talking about Sasma now.”
The SASMA's including Nara Smith in their Food Influencer of the year category and not Onezwa Mbola is sooo messy!
— Sinentlantla Petse (@MissPetse) August 17, 2024
Influencer Khethokuhle “Kay Yarms” Ngonyama also expressed her frustration about Smith’s nomination.
“We have so many food influencers in South Africa and Nara is at the top of the nomination list?” she questioned.
In response to Ngonyama, the event organisers have defended their decision to include Smith saying that nominations were based on submissions from either the influencers themselves or their fans.
“Did you nominate the food influencers you are referring to? Nomination is by public vote for the awards,” they said.
Smith’s nomination is controversial due to an ongoing feud with Mbola.
In June, Mbola shared on her Instagram stories how a “very popular” content creator has been stealing her content and turning a blind eye.
While she stated that she was not the first to create recipes that included boba tea, home-made mozzarella, pasta, or roasted chicken and vegetables, the similarities between Smith’s content and hers were too coincidental.
Mbola said she was very disheartened because Smith is benefiting from her content ideas, never credits her source of inspiration and continues to gain followers while she can’t get a brand partnership.