BEVERLY HILLS, May 10, (THEWILL) – South African rapper, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, better known as AKA, has opened up concerning reports of alleged “violence and drugs” in his relationship with his late fiancée, Nelli Tembe.
THEWILL recalls that Nelli died on April 11 after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.
Following her death, a popular South African news platform, News24 on Saturday released images where the rapper was seen using his hands to violently break down a wooden door so that he could get to his late fiancée in what seemed like an attack.
The Publication disclosed that a close friend of Tembe, who spoke in a police statement, said Nelli Tembe, who engaged the rapper, was a victim of severe violence at the hands of AKA.
The statement read in part, “Nelli was on numerous occasions physically and emotionally abused by AKA.
“My beloved friend was a victim of gender-based violence (GBV). As women, we are too quiet about the abuse that is happening behind closed doors.
“We must speak out! I am today speaking out.”
She also disclosed that her late friend sent her the video of the attacks she suffered in the hands of the rapper.
However, AKA while reacting to the allegations in a statement on Twitter, disclosed that his relationship with Tembe was “beautiful, yet challenging.”
The rapper also stated that he would not be drawn into exposing their troubles as a couple to defend himself against “one-sided views.”
AKA also refuted allegations “drug use and incidents of violence” plagued the couple’s relationship, and labelled the reports an “attempt to disparage his name and Nelli’s character.”
He said: “What makes it even sadder is the knowledge that some of the people, she and I loved and entrusted with our deepest troubles, are now using those as weapons to set a negative narrative on my character.
“I am a passionate and emotional person. What I will not do and stand for is watching people attempt to disparage my name and, importantly, Nelli’s to suit a narrative we both never signed up for.”
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