Nigerian music star Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has released a detailed public statement following a wave of online criticism and bullying triggered by the resurfacing of her decade-old tweets. The backlash erupted after Simi made a powerful post on X (formerly Twitter) condemning sexual violence and calling for stronger accountability against rapists.
Earlier this month, a viral TikTok case highlighting sexual assault became a trending topic on social media, prompting heated conversations about rape culture in Nigeria. Simi joined the discussion with a bold and emotional message on her X account, writing:
“STOP RAPING WOMEN. They need to castrate rapists and burn them.”
While the post earned widespread praise from supporters, it also attracted criticism and personal attacks, with some users shifting the conversation from sexual violence to scrutinizing Simi herself.
Old Tweets Resurface
The controversy intensified when tweets from 2012 and 2013 were dug up and shared widely. These posts, written when Simi was 23, included casual commentary about children she interacted with while working at her mother’s daycare, as well as observations about everyday life at the time. Some users interpreted the tweets out of context, framing them as inappropriate, which fueled further online backlash.
Simi’s team also deleted certain tweets, not to hide anything, but to protect her family amid the growing public attention.
Simi’s Full Official Statement
On February 23, 2026, Simi addressed the controversy in a series of X posts. In her own words, she said:
“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.” “14 years ago, I was 23, so I was definitely not a child. 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.” “In 2012, I lived and helped out at my mom’s daycare while I was hustling my music. I tweeted everything that happened in my life, as we all did at the time.” “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.” “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. I’ve never been depraved in my life.” “My team has been deleting some of my tweets because of how sensitive it is for my family. To be honest, I did not want to.” “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. I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I’ve never claimed to know everything.” “I said stop raping women. I stand by it.”
This statement clarified the context of the old tweets, addressed the misinterpretation by some online users, and reaffirmed Simi’s longstanding stance against sexual violence.
