Tyla Stands Firm in Her Identity Amid Backlash

Tyla is unapologetically embracing her identity despite past controversy surrounding her use of the term “colored.” In a British Vogue interview, she clarified her perspective on race and culture. The South African singer explained that in her country, “colored” has a historical context different from its offensive U.S. usage. She expressed frustration over critics misinterpreting her words and intentions.

The backlash stemmed from a resurfaced 2020 TikTok video where Tyla referred to herself as a “colored South African.” Some viewers saw it as distancing herself from Black identity, but she insists that isn’t the case. She refrained from addressing it on The Breakfast Club in June 2024, fearing misrepresentation. “I didn’t want to explain my culture on a platform that would purposefully misconstrue it,” she told Vogue.

Tyla described South Africa’s racial classification system, emphasizing how colonization shaped identity labels. “They chose to call mixed people ‘colored,’” she said, recalling how she navigated both identities. Moving to the U.S. complicated her understanding when people rejected the term outright. “I knew I was Black, but I also knew I was colored,” she reflected.

Despite bullying in her early years, Tyla grew to embrace herself in high school. She acknowledged that some will never understand her perspective, and that’s okay. “I know who I am. I’m Black, I’m colored, and you can be both,” she stated confidently. Now, she hopes more people take the time to learn rather than judge.