Their turbulent love story has played out in full view of the public for years – and now it appears to have hit another painful low.
Award-winning rapper and producer Mthembeni “Emtee” Ndevu has once again lifted the lid on the state of his marriage to Nicole Kendall Ndevu-Chinsamy, this time declaring himself single and labelling their relationship “toxic” in a series of troubling posts on social media.
The couple, who have been together for more than a decade and married since 2019, share three children: two sons, Avery and Logan, and a daughter, Nairobi. Their union has long been a public rollercoaster – marked by break-ups, make-ups, accusations, leaked messages and even criminal charges – and much of it has been aired on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
In his latest outburst, Emtee did not hold back. He told his followers that he considers himself single and described the emotional toll he says the marriage has taken on him.
On X, he wrote:
“I never thought in my life I’d be with someone who hates me with passion,”
openly calling his marriage “toxic” and claiming he has spent years with a partner who “hates me with a passion”.
In another post, he went even further, likening his wife to something that drains his life:
“12 years loving a parasite who’s a hater,”
he tweeted, suggesting that the relationship has been both emotionally and physically damaging.
These latest claims add another chapter to a relationship that has been under scrutiny for years.
Divorce talk, moving out and pleas for help
In 2024, reports surfaced that Emtee and Nicole had filed for divorce. At the time, it was alleged that Emtee had moved out of the family home and was staying with a friend in Fourways.
A close friend of the Roll Up hitmaker told TshisaLIVE that the rapper no longer wanted to be in the marriage and hinted that the couple needed serious intervention.
“He doesn’t want to be in the marriage. They do need help,”
the source said, reflecting the level of strain in the relationship.
The divorce reports followed years of public spats and accusations, many of which unfolded online.
Assault case, viral video and dropped charges
Before the divorce headlines, 2023 had already been a dramatic year for the couple. Emtee and Nicole were thrust into the spotlight after allegations of assault emerged.
A viral video did the rounds on social media, showing a heated commotion between Emtee, Nicole and a person identified as Nicole’s mother. Nicole opened an assault case against the rapper, though she later dropped the charges.
Emtee, for his part, took to X to deny the allegations – even as reports indicated that he had handed himself over to the police.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo later confirmed to City Press that the musician had indeed surrendered to authorities.
Masondo said:
“As per the case you provided, the police can confirm that the suspect handed himself over to the police, and he was charged with assault and taken to court, where he was granted bail.
He handed himself in on Wednesday, March 8, [2023] and he was taken to the Midrand Magistrates’ Court the same day,” he said.
The charge and subsequent withdrawal of the case added to the perception of a deeply troubled relationship, one that veered between reconciliation and fresh conflict.
Cheating claims, leaked DMs and public denials
The drama did not end there. In August 2025, the couple’s relationship was once again under public scrutiny when cheating controversies erupted, driven by leaked messages on social media.
Nicole allegedly leaked private Instagram direct messages between Emtee and Big Brother Mzansi star Mshini Lekwadu, as well as another woman named Maipelo. The screenshots hinted at possible romantic undertones and quickly set tongues wagging online.
Emtee, however, rejected any suggestion that he was cheating. He insisted his communication with Mshini was completely innocent and work-related. According to him, he had simply wanted to express appreciation for her support of his music while she was in the Big Brother Mzansi house.
He later issued a public statement clarifying his side of the story and distancing himself from the cheating allegations.
“I don’t know Mshini personally. Like most people, I watched her on Big Brother and witnessed how she supports my craft,” he said.
He stressed that his intentions with the DMs were not romantic, but rather to thank a fan who had shown him public support.
Counselling, reconciliation – and another breakdown
Despite the constant public turmoil, Emtee and Nicole have tried to mend their relationship more than once.
After the wave of accusations, legal trouble and social media wars, the pair reportedly attended counselling sessions. The rapper later confirmed that they had reconciled and were actively working on their marriage.
Speaking on MacG’s Podcast and Chill, Emtee said he was doing everything he could to keep his family together and admitted that being apart from his wife and children had taken a heavy toll on his mental health. He explained that he was:
“fighting for my family”
and revealed that he was depressed during their time apart.
For a while, it appeared the couple had turned a corner. Social media posts suggested calmer waters, with fewer public blow-ups and more focus on family and music.
But his latest round of tweets – describing his marriage as toxic, calling Nicole a “parasite”, and saying he has spent 12 years loving someone who “hates” him – shows how fragile that peace has been, and how quickly old wounds can reopen.
A relationship in the spotlight
From legal battles and leaked messages to emotional outbursts on X and tearful confessions in interviews, Emtee and Nicole’s relationship has unfolded almost entirely in public.
Their story is no longer just about a celebrity couple’s troubles; it paints a complex picture of a long-term relationship that has struggled under the pressure of fame, social media and unresolved personal issues.
With Emtee now publicly declaring he is single and again portraying the marriage as deeply harmful, it remains to be seen whether this is a final break or just another chapter in a relationship that has become defined by its cycle of conflict and fragile reconciliation.
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