- Babes Wodumo addressed the wave of online criticism after she opened the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Sundowns
- The Wololo hitmaker's performance became a major talking point online, with several online users slamming her stage presence and physical appearance, prompting her to speak out
- The self-proclaimed Queen of Gqom expressed disappointment that most of the negative comments about her body came from fellow women
Source: Instagram
Babes Wodumo has spoken out after facing a fresh round of online backlash, pointing out what she sees as a troubling pattern in how women treat each other on social media.
The Gqom star, real name Bongekile Simelane, opened the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on 10 October 2026, taking the stage in a yellow two-piece outfit that turned heads for more reasons than one. While some viewers questioned the quality of her set, others took aim directly at her appearance, and the 32-year-old has had enough.
Babes Wodumo calls out hateful women
In an interview with DailySUN, Simelane said what stung most was not the criticism itself, but where it came from.
"It's sad that most of the people who had negative opinions about my body were women," she said, before asking, "When will we stop hating each other?" The singer urged women to choose harmony over hostility.
Source: Instagram
This is far from the first time Babes has found herself at the centre of public scrutiny. Back in July, she was caught in a controversy after allegedly taking payment for a performance and failing to show up, leaving a promoter in a difficult position.
Beyond the headlines and the criticism, Babes has been quietly fighting a much more personal battle. Since the death of her husband Mampintsha in 2022, the Wololo hitmaker has been working to piece her life and career back together.
She has opened up about how close she came to giving up entirely, crediting her young son and the people counting on her as the reason she found the strength to keep going.
Her willingness to speak candidly about both the public judgement and the private grief paints a fuller picture of an artist navigating an undeniably difficult chapter.
Watch Babes Wodumo's performance below.
Social media gushes over Babes Wodumo
In an earlier report, Briefly News shared online reactions to a viral photo of Babes Wodumo.
Taken after getting her makeup done, the photo drew praise from social media, with fans raving about her good looks.
Source: Briefly News
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