Nigerian singer Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, widely known as Simi, has responded to renewed criticism over a tweet she shared in 2012 that involved a four-year-old boy.
The post, which resurfaced on social media, described a child named David allegedly having a crush on her, with details about him getting physically close. The tweet, since deleted, read: “David has a crush on me. He kips comn close; actin lik he wana lock lips n den he puts his head on my lap. Shd I giv him a chance? P.S: Hes 4.”
The resurfaced message sparked outrage online, with some users accusing the singer of sexualising a minor and demanding further scrutiny.
In a detailed statement shared on her X account, Simi explained the context of the tweet and addressed the criticism. She stated that she was 23 at the time, living with her mother and helping at her day-care while pursuing her music career. She described her tweets as reflections of everyday experiences, often humorous, including interactions with children.
“I tweeted about what happened in my life, as we all did,” she wrote. “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. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion.”
Simi further rejected the interpretation that her post was inappropriate, emphasizing that she has consistently spoken out against rape and sexual assault. She also confirmed that her team had begun deleting some older tweets due to the sensitivity of the situation for her family, though she initially resisted removing them.
“I’ve never been depraved in my life,” Simi said. “You can retweet all the tweets in the world about me loudly crushing on people I admire/d, or being a cheeky young woman. I wasn’t trying to hide it because I have nothing to hide. I have always spoken against rape and sexual assault. It’s not a costume I’m wearing; it’s who I am.”
Simi concluded by stressing that she does not claim to be perfect but remains committed to her advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.
