Redi Tlhabi’s support of Bonang was misunderstood by many who took it as an incentive to shame the TV and radio star. Luckily, Redi was on hand to clarify what she meant.
Context is everything, especially on social media, and many of the people responding to the former 702 presenter lacked the necessary context. You see, in order to understand Redi’s comments, one first needs to understand what inspired them.
A bitter Tweep tried to shame Bonang by pointing out some of her most high-profile exes, including AKA, D’Banj and Slikour. (We recently shared a timeline of Bonang’s baes down the years).
Bonang responded with a clapback that saw her trending for the next two days when she wrote:
“My vagina. My rules. Let’s find another angle baby… this is also tired. Make some effort. You can do it.”
The hashtag #IAmBonang began to trend and local journalist and renowned feminist, Redi Tlhabi, lent her praise to the cause:
Quite frankly, I hope her vagina is as talented as the rest of her! And that she KNOWS it! https://t.co/eXu9tynOXz
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) June 8, 2018
Cue the confusion.
Perhaps some people hadn’t seen Bonang’s initial tweets, or maybe a few struggled to understand Redi’s wording. Whatever the explanation, this tweet was deeply misinterpreted:
This account is hacked. The Redi we know wouldn’t tweet this
— Godfrey Kekana (@kam2c) June 8, 2018
Akere they say @euphonik and @akaworldwide Didn’t eat, only @slikouron ate. So that’s where the talent comes in.
— DavidMaila (@David_Maila) June 8, 2018
Guys please…. our Redi will never stoop this low! I’m sure the hackers are busy with her account again!
— Desi-Ray (@PietersenG) June 8, 2018
Talented vagina 🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/tg18FgTf5l
— Kolobe Cholo (@kolobe_cholo) June 8, 2018
She is saying Bonang is talented and if she gets gigs using her vagina then it means her vagina is just as talented as her and she hopes she knows it. What an odd compliment.
— Tshepo (@tshepol_) June 8, 2018
Needless to say, Redi was annoyed at how she had been misinterpreted.
Those who understood her tweet began rallying round her:
Guys…guys…please read what she’s saying again and again and you will understand what she’s trying to put out there…It’s deep
— SiphoMegaBytes(32149MB) (@SiphoMegaBytes) June 8, 2018
They just saw the word “vagina” & now come on my TL without context and understanding. Don’t know what I am referring to & how it links to the slut shaming & cyber bullying to which #IAMBONANG is a response. Fools. So early in the morning https://t.co/WBfZ5zuSGC
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) June 8, 2018
For those who really hadn’t understood, Redi took a moment to explain herself:
Because you asked so nicely, I will balance you. Yesterday someone tweeted about the number of men Bonang has been with. She hit back “My vagina, my rules”. This started wave of support & #IAmBonang. “talented vagina” tweet is in that context. An affirmation of her ENTIRE being https://t.co/PcEcj3V54M
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) June 8, 2018
Be honest, did Redi Tlhabi’s comment have you scratching your head for a moment?
