She’s South African not American. Her terms and experiences are different. She’s colored 🤷🏾‍♀️ that’s how they say it. Now leave it and stop projecting.

As a South African in South Africa , we absolutely do not consider Tyla black. Coloured is a race here and it's okay if the rest of the world doesn't agree 🫶🏽

Tyla IS coloured… She is MULTIracial & that is how the refer to themselves over there. Not everything is centered around America & our obsession with race. SHE IS NOT AMERICAN & didn’t say anything wrong about HERSELF 🙄

South African Black girl here. The US needs to recognise that they do not dictate how the rest of the world classifies or identifies racially. We all have our history, however twisted, it’s ours. You cannot bully Tyla out of her experience and identity! Wtf! And I agree 100% with what Darren said.

She’s already explained. Quite well actually. People who want her to keep answering must want her to give a different answer

Tyla said nothing wrong. She's not American and shouldn't be hated on for saying she's colored.

I love how she looked back instead of answering

Im American and wasnt offended. People just always need something to be outraged about. When I personally think of black I dont thing of Tyla anyway she looks more Indian in my opinion. The world does not revolve around Americans and what they think but I can see why she cares about our opinions. Also, I think media should respect people feelings and time because he knew he shouldnt have asked her that

The race obsession is exhausting considering Tyla is unproblematic and done already told us. Damn.

I really wish we Americans would let the one drop rule go .... Arguing that clearly multi-ethnic or ambiguous people are black/should see themselves as black is narrow and only contributes to our own erasure

As a black South African, I’m proud of Tyla for staying true to her identity and not claiming blackness. In South Africa, the “one drop rule” didn’t take effect as it did in America. During Apartheid, if you were mixed with anything, you were considered coloured. Black people were the lowest ranking “class” citizens and our forefathers’ experience were different to those of coloureds. Coloureds got certain privileges that black people didn’t, so did Indians. Though coloureds’ experiences were not as smooth during Apartheid as the white race, their proximity to other nationalities (usually white and Indian) meant they weren’t subjected to oppression in the same extent that black people were. If Tyla had claimed that she was black in South Ah, it would’ve been a problem. It’s disappointing that she is getting backlash for actually being politically correct.

Tyla didn't do anything wrong. She just wants to sing and dance everywhere. Tyla's tried to be sensitive and accommodating but some people constantly change the goalpost of what their issues are with Tyla. Its no way to win with these people. I bet they don't even know why they are mad anymore. Tyla doesn't deserve this.

Tyla is not a black woman. She’s multiracial and we can definitely call her mixed.

I actually appreciate and respect Tyla for calling herself colored cuz I'm tired of biracial people calling themselves "black"🙄😒

As an African (I’m Congolese) I find all of this very annoying and frustrating (so I don’t even imagine how Tyla feels) The rest of the world understands the difference excerpt Americans and they want to force her to call herself a black woman when she’s not. Also, y’all have a problem with Tyla calling herself coloured but wasn’t the terms nigga a racial slur? But y’all use it daily. So there’s a certain level of hypocrisy here. And it feels like a lot of y’all are mad that she refuses to call herself a black woman because of y’all’s one drop rule

As a Nigerian living in 🇳🇬 i want to let the black Americans to know dat south africa is not the only country in africa that people identify as coloured visit Namibia, bostwana, Zimbabwe etc there is alot u guyz dnt know abt my continent, the world do not revolve around America

Charlemagne needed a moment he does that every single time with artist like Tyla. Started off the interview messy and you could tell Tyla was not feeling that man and was uncomfortable.

Victoria ATE!! Tyla addressed the negative connotation of the word colored, and it’s obviously used different in South Africa. ALL artists need to stop going on the messy breakfast club. He could have asked ANYTHING but race baited

I don’t know why she’d need to talk about it anymore. She already over explained for the Americans who think their way is the ONLY way.

This is a BASIC history lesson. If you are having a problem with the SA term "Coloured" you need to go read a book. PERIOD.

It’s not Tyla’s job to educate the masses about what “colored” is - if she doesn’t want to keep talking about it she doesn’t have to. When we depend on celebrities to educate us about things we don’t know, we end up just not knowing. I’m not a big fan of “Google University research” but in this case, it’s a simple and useful tool.

As an african living in africa I've always known mixed race people to be "Coloured" and not black. it's not just in South Africa. many other African countries like Zambia refere to mixed race individuals as coloured ,thats how its been

I’m glad Tyla shut it down because we as South Africans have beeen explaining the term to Americans on social media… but they just wont listen (some of them). Im glad she kept quiet

The Black Aesthethic that people claim she is stealing I really hope it's not Braids yall are referring to because box braids were literally created in South Africa. Her music beats, performance clothing style, lyrics are all African. She is African and is absolutely allowed to dress in a way that reflects her culture.

As a South African, coloured is a race this side. Just like black, white and Indian. She said nothing wrong!

I wish ppl would leave Tyla alone🙄

Empressive my love. Tyla has already explained it in numerous interviews. How many more interviews and platforms is she supposed to address this? Come on … 😩 enough already… Americans and their obsession with race 😩. Let her talent speak for itself!

I'm glad Tyla is reaffirming that she's colored. It's a fact! There's a whole race of colored people in South Africa with their own cultural identity & history.

Tyla, Ayra, & Tems is doing their thing. From South Africa to Nigeria! All beauties!

I wish Tyla clapped back and told him there’s a world outside of the US and he should get a passport. I’m from the UK, black Caribbean heritage and I have friends that are black, white and colored from SA. It’s so interesting speaking to them as African pple with different experiences. Let’s learn about each other. Speak to people, ask questions the world is an amazing place with vibrant people and culture.

At least Tyla is honest about her cultural identity. I respect that more than some of the phenotypically ambiguous mixed race people who don't acknowledge that their walk in life can be drastically different from others who move in the same spaces. If she calls herself colored then that's her business.

Excellent discussiom Empressive! Thanks for always giving us balanced commentary.

Leave that girl alone. If she's colored where she comes from that is not for anyone else to argue. Let her be.

Tyla is Coloured not "colored", this is not only an actual racial group in South Africa, but it's an entire culture. There is no controversy here, just american ignorance at its peak. She's already explained it so many times, and clearly you can only do so much to try and "educate" people who are so committed to their ignorance. People are just looking for some negative narrative to have about her. Anyway, may our girl keep shining❤ Born In the Wild is gooooorgeous and has great replay value🔥

Tyla doesn't consider herself blk. She's just a colored mixed girl from South Africa. Blk people need to stop hating on her.

Tbh honest the number South Africans in the comments saying Tyla is coloured has ALWAYS outnumbered the amount of black people/Americans in the comments claiming her to be black. To me the reality of the situation is not that many black ppl care to argue. Tyla could be showing us her favorite lipgloss and here y’all come, “TYLA IS A COLORURED WOMAN FROM SOUTH AFRICA. SHE IS NOT BLACK SHE IS A PROUD SOUTH AFRICAN. “ like okay it just keeps coming out of nowhere when it’s not even the purpose of a video she may be posting. Idk if it’s just the algorithm pushing the comments to the top but it’s fine that she’s South African. Not all of us Americans are trying to argue about it. Some of us, we get it but y’all don’t have to keep saying it out of the blue every five minutes. Like it be coming from left field. Tyla really be minding her business while y’all just arguing over her identity. And idk if Ms. Empressive agrees or not. But it’s okay for her to identify with both if that’s what she wants. It’s up to Tyla. Y’all are really arguing with yourselves tbh. I for one love Tyla and love what she brings to the music industry wherever she is in the world at the time. I am proud of her. But it just seems as if people are taking their little interactions on the internet with other people in America and assume that none of us get it. The people who do get it aren’t busy arguing online in comment sections. They are actually living life. Even if it’s 10,000 black Americans that wane call her black, that still doesn’t make up the majority of us. That’s like a grain of sand on the beach and y’all are dragging it. Tbh if I was South African I would be so proud that I wouldn’t have time to be arguing with ppl that don’t get it. If they don’t get it then just leave it in the dust. the arguing is wasted energy. The people that wanna argue about it are gonna sound ignorant It’s that simple. But We are not all ignorant.

Not these ninja men and women pressuring Tyla to call herself black 😂😂😂 she’s mixed and that’s okay. Idk why black people want her to be black so bad. If y’all wanna claim her claim Charlize Theron, too. She’s South African too.

Why y’all forcing that girl to say she black 😂

Tyla doesn’t need to explain anything. She has already explained it once and Google is FREE… it’s not her fault that most of us Americans are ethnocentric and view the rest of the world through our own lens.

Been waiting for your review of Alright!!!! lol ❤❤❤

Truth be told, the main reason Tyla is getting attention in America is because of colorism and the one drop rule. The one drop rule needs to go asap

I dont understand how yall say shes marketing herself black Americans shes just being herself and embracing her african roots thats why yall think shes trying to be black when in actuality shes african

Tyla is proud coloured like me and millions of other South Africans

Yall remember that Disney movie the color of friendship? They were in South Africa and they was calling the black girl colored and Bantu .

I respect the South African stance of NOT identifying as Black when multiracial. Because let's be honest, just as the guy said, biracials and multiracial, don't all the time experience the same levels of treatment as someone who is 100% Black (racially African aesthetic). They may be privileged aesthetically and would receive better treatment than those who are more perceived as African based on features. They are showing respect but living within their own truth. I respect that

Tems is a star ❤❤

She doesn’t owe Americans sh*t. As an American myself- we need to educate ourselves on terminology that we don’t understand. We clearly all have phones, computers, iPads, etc to do the research- if we didn’t, we wouldn’t even know who she is. It’s not that hard to do a quick google search.

Nah, we are not going to GRAZE. Over what she said. We need to hold her to what she is saying. Tyla is a PLANT

How y’all gonna say she should’ve used this platform to explain like she hasnt already? This is why she’s hesitant to get into the topic of RACE because ppl will pick it apart. She’s explained it before NUMEROUS times and ppl wanna get messy. She avoids the question and topic to avoid tension or offend anyone and YALL STILL FIND SOMETHING WRONG with that smh

Tems' vibe is like if velvet was a person. 🥰Victoria Monét and her artistry is perfection. Now onto Tyla; this discussion is tired like having to explain why BLM was important. Its honestly weird how obsessed African Americans are with her race. The rest of the diaspora doesn't behave this way. Even Afro Latinas/Latinas/Polynesians have made the same comments about African Americans forcefully calling them black or having to explain their ethnicity. Can someone explain why this is? Tyla is Coloured and if that's such an issue she should just come back home cause we love her here regardless.🇿🇦❤

I know that it takes alot of time and effort but in a perfect world I would have a new video from you daily. Love your content and commentary.❤

I understand Tyla and the gentlemen’s explanation. A woman of color who is IMO an immigrant told me to not call myself “Black” and how it was so wrong. I’m Black American my entire family is born in America. You’re not gonna immigrate here then tell me what to say! I was so happy to block her 😂

Idk why people are so pressed about someone else’s race/ethnicity. Whether she is black or not, who cares? 🥴

Tyla has explained it already bro… what else do you want!! 😂😂 btw “coloured “people don’t consider themselves “black” in Africa…. But you are not ready for that conversation 😂😂😂 in short racial identification is a whole different ball game in Africa than it is in America. We should learn to accept/respect that and not forcing your standards/classifications onto others

You explain this perfectly empressive

What I want to know is who in her camp purposely gave her the line "he ain't never met a pretty girl from joburg tell you now that's what he prefers"... Like come on the use of the word "prefer" here is very deliberate

Victoria Monet is IT! Definitely giving Janet/MJ vibes

But Trevor Noah had a whole show explaining this😢

Doesn't matter where she's from. I see Tyla as an artist who wants to be as successful as everyone in the music industry. Tyla definitely will be a star and she should be. I don't see her as a South African artist but an artist who stands out from the rest. Just wish her all the best.

Tyla did the right thing by not answering the question in that interview. She has answered this question many times. We as South Africans have also been drawn into this debate many many times, trying to educate people on why coloured is different to black in South Africa. At this point, people keep bringing it up because they want to "educate" us about our own country and racial identity (it would be funny if it wasn't annoying), not because they're genuinely interested in learning. NB! Just simply being mixed race doesn't make you coloured in SA (Trevor Noah is NOT coloured). Coloured people have a long and unique history as a group.

As South African, The discussion on Tyla was the most balanced I've heard from any American blogger. Thank you Impressive for putting it into context. Hopefully more people will understand.

I can't stop watching Victoria's video. It's so good! The looks, the dancing, the beat is amazing! It's a 10 for me!

If she's in America, she's not exempt from uncomfortable questions. Black people and other people are asked, why should she be avoided... Thanks❤

Anyone remember that Disney movie "The Color of Friendship?" They touched in the topic of coloured. This reminds me of that

People clocking Tyla are weird. She doesn’t need to apologize for anything

Nikhona🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦. I'm a black South African and tyla did nothing wrong. Here in South Africa we understand what she means. Go tyla🇿🇦🇿🇦❤️we love you sisi and Mzansi🇿🇦 is right behind you ❤️

She does not NEED to explain anything. Tyla is 100% South African and all of her aesthetic has came from her home

It’s the “anyway” closing summary for me. Too much rambling 😂 love your channel girl!!!

Empressive ,tyla is not capitalizing off anything that's her culture, she grew up and apart of it.

Colored is a civil rights term Coloured is a ethnicity its a different word !! Like won and one !! I'm from NY live in South Africa we gotta realize other countries have there own cultures and history it's not centered around America !! ❤

She comes from South Africa, I think she knows more about her identity than Americans. It's pretty stupid that they require you to have a specific ethnicity and stick to it.

Tyla can't have it both ways. If she wants to be a global superstar in The States, she has questions to answer. If she doesn't want to answer those questions, she can go back home.

I blame the Tyla “controversy” on global white surpremacy…but I don’t think most of us are ready for that conversation 👀

Victoria did the damn thing and reminded folks what a real music video should look like. I’m also happy she did a Kaytranada beat/ production justice and gave it the treatment it deserves..this is how u keep elevating..everything she incorporated Janet, MJ, ballroom, effects etc..amazing

All i can say to all South Africans today we celebrate June 16 because the brave youth of 1976 took to the streets to fight the same thing we debating about race and segregation they lost their life so we can have liberty to have an opinion and be heard and be given equal education they fought not to be taught in language of the oppressor. Let's all educate and be educated the struggle is always the same , love , peace and togetherness. Happy Youth day South Africa and all the people who fought for us so we can enjoy liberty❤

This should be a topic in American schools…… We Africans find it offensive to be identified by our color ok? White, mixed, or black as long as you are from an African country you are African Tyla is African Ayra Star is African I am African the Egyptians🇪🇬 the Morrocans 🇲🇦 the Lebanese 🇱🇧 e.t.c are all Africans we don’t say white or black African in Africa we only identify as AFRICANS ❤

Yall don’t remember that Disney movie with a black family that took in that white South African girl and they thought she would be black and she came there and she was white ? They was mad? And then she called them colored because in her country that’s what they referred to Black mixed looking people. y’all don’t remember that movie from Disney.

Empressive actually was the first person I heard talk about Victoria Monet . After her review of the song 'on my mama' I had to go and watch the video for myself. Instant classic! And I'm so happy she won a Grammy too, well deserved. The video for 'Alright' is great too, which I'm glad because ' on my mama' was such a cultural phenomenon, I'm sure it was challenging for she and her team to try to come up with a video just as visually stunning, but she killed it. Especially the Choreography. In fact I honestly think some of the special effects detract from the choreography, but that's just me being picky ...it's still a great video 💯🙌🏾😌

Tyla has already explained her race and cultire before, and people took it and ran with it and dogged her. She is not from here, and so she is learning how to answer certain things. As a Black American woman, I dont feel offended in any way. Tyla is mixed with a lot of things. I can't imagine how stressful that is, and she shouldn't have to deny other parts of who she is. There's a lot running through her veins. My goodness.

Tyla didn't explain it on the Breakfast Club because she explained it before. I would stop explaining myself over and over again too

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who viewed it this way but Empressive, sometimes when you react to mixed individuals addressing their blackness, I feel like it is done with a bias or interestingly negative undertone. Thank you for covering the topic, but you're delivery of it is interesting to me . Important topic nonetheless and I think Tyla continues to handle it greatly

She doesn't really have to explain anything......Her choice. #TeamTyla

I said it before and I will say it again for the people in the back. How is what Danileigh said "yellow bone is what he want" Tyla says A pretty girl from Joberg is what they prefer. To me its a colorist statement. She does not identify as a black woman but want to use the culture to cross over. I work in a place where I see most Ethiopians say they are white.Wake up she is only releasing a statement because she thought she was about to be canceled. If she felt that way why not just say that during the interview.

In the Trinidad and Tobago we don't use the word coloured but Tyla would be consider a Douglas which means she mix with Both ( African and Indian) Descendants it's not a race but a Tribe of people the the but am Trinidadian I don't know what other Carribbean islands would refer to her as

Tems is a poet ♡

Expressive coming thru with the back to back videos 🫶🏽🫶🏽🐐🐐💕

But tyla literally already addressed it and explained it for the uneducated American people. For instance that clip beforehand were she spoke on it. Google is actually free if you have further questions

Coloured people are an actual race, and culture in South Africa. We don't mean just biracial people... If you are in South Africa, you never confuse a black man with a coloured man, even though sometimes our skin tones overlap...

I’m so glad “Alright” is getting the praise it deserves it’s one of my favs from Victoria’s album

I love Tyla ! People just ready to jump at anything they can

Yess that Alright video is 🔥🔥 choreography is on point!

Even Tyla is a unique coloured in SA. You don’t see coloureds in South Africa who dance or sing to black music (Amapiano) who wear braids or weaves, she’s a rare case even in SA, I know she’s not cosplayinh cause she’s been doing it since a high school.

Race and ethnicity is always going to be a controversial topic

Empressive I agree with you for the last topic. U r right n she should address it.

I truly believe by now everyone in this world has a combination of different races in their dna. As a social construct, we place labels on everything. Moving forward I think "blackness" should be celebrated.

The Black people in South Africa don’t see her as black, but coloured. She and her parents are mixed/ multi-ethnic. I’m a Canadian-Jamaican & when I look at them to me they look West Indian/ Cooley. Depending on where you are from people categorize everyone differently. At the end of the day we are all human & for the past 21 years she has identified & has been called a coloured person.

I think the primary issue when it comes to Tyla revolves more so less about how others and how she personally identifies within the US/SA context, but more so how she identifies in relation to the entire Black diaspora to who as a collective demographic of consumers Tyla is marketed towards. Let's face it, because Tyla - even as a multiracial woman - is African and hails from one of THE most musically influential countries when it comes to current popular music, her brand is by default going to lean into towards catering to a Black audience by profiting into Black aesthetics and proximity. Her being multiracial though not the most essential thing to her talent, is something that plays well into her favor as it pertains to her desirability. There is no negating that because of this very fact that because she is mixed - and regardless of how we may personally perceive and identify her as - is an integral component to her marketability within the Black sector of the music industry. I think the reason why people are misconstruing her words and her personal identity is because we want to be able to understand who she is and whether or not as a collective demographic we can digest her music and Tyla herself as a brand, who as a artist and thus product being promoted to us, is so seeped heavily in blackness. In theory, how do we receive and relate to the product that is being sold to us that does not fully reflect us?

Trevor lived for years in the US, there is no way they don't know or understand what Tyla meant unless of course they just want to cause drama.

@empressive channel. Love how you reverted to your original intro. It's classic and classy.

Tyla does need to explain cuz she said herself she knows in America it’s a derogatory word. It’s not just black ppl that would feel uncomfortable it’s white ppl too-no pop radio DJ wants a sound bite of him/her going around calling a black person “colored” Tyla and her team has had this question before-too many times to not have a prepared answer. Personally, I don’t think Tyla and her team wanted her to be seen as black but as racially ambiguous but they realized the America white audience saw her as black and had to switch audience targets now black ppl are clocking it and they are doing damage control. If Tyla wants the Black American support then she does need to adjust her lingo and just say biracial/multiracial. It’s crazy many SA want Black Americans to change our perception of the word for Tyla when she is entering America. Nope, Tyla needs to Show respect to culture, history, to Black Americans because she is entering in our space.