Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Tiwatope Savage, popularly known as Tiwa Savage, has described her leaked sex tape of 2021 as one of the most painful experiences of her life, revealing it was shared as part of a bet.
Speaking on The Breakfast Club in an interview released Tuesday, the award-winning artiste said the scandal left deep scars on her career, personal life and mental health.
“When I spoke about the tape, it was my way of trying to get through it. But in hindsight, did I really deal with it? I don’t think so. I was hurt. I was a victim,” Savage said.
She explained that her then-boyfriend initially claimed the tape was mistakenly sent but later discovered it was circulated among his friends as part of a wager.
“He said he pressed send by accident. I later found out it was a bet with his friends,” she disclosed.
Savage said the backlash from Nigerians worsened the trauma, with many accusing her of staging the incident for publicity. “They thought I did it for PR. Some said I wasn’t relevant anymore. But if I wanted that, it would have been better planned,” she said.
The singer also revealed she considered legal action but abandoned it due to the emotional toll. “We tried, but it was too traumatic for me to keep reliving it. I just wanted to move on,” she noted.
She added that the criticism extended to her role as a mother, which she found even more painful than the tape itself. “They brought my son into it and said I was unfit. That hurt me more than the actual thing,” she said.
According to her, the incident affected her artistry, making it difficult to record or perform certain songs. “The first record took me four attempts to record. Even now, I skip it when listening to the album. I haven’t been able to perform it,” she admitted.
Despite the setback, Savage credited her family, especially her mother, for their support. “My mom told me not to listen to them and that she was happy I was enjoying myself. Hearing her say that helped,” she said.
The singer further disclosed she has been in therapy and has embraced celibacy for the past three years. “I have to be with someone meaningful before I think about it,” she explained.
Now 45, Tiwa Savage said she views love and relationships differently and remains focused on her son, career, and close circle of supporters.
