This archive report was first published on 15 June 2021.
Diamond Platnumz Responds to Petition to Remove Him from BET Awards 2021 ¶
Published on June 15, 2021
Chibu Dangote, the CEO of Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB), has responded to a petition calling for his removal from the 2021 BET Awards. The petition, which has been circulating online, alleges that Diamond Platnumz 'actively and publicly supported deceased Magufuli's regime.'
According to the petition, Diamond Platnumz remained silent when fellow Tanzanian artists were imprisoned and abducted in 2017-2018 over video clips deemed obscene by the authorities. The petition also claims that Diamond Platnumz deliberately released a single called 'Acha Nikae Kimya' (Let me remain quiet) in 2017 as a response to the increasing demand from the public to speak up and condemn the crackdowns.
However, Diamond Platnumz has clapped back at the petition, stating that those who are petitioning against him probably did it out of frustration with their personal lives. He added that it is not up to him to judge them because they might decide to apologize for it.
“Sio kwamba mtu anakusema kwa ubaya leo anakuchukia, pengine kaamka na moods zake zimemtuma hivyo. Epuka sana kumchukia mtu anayezungumza kitu kibaya juu yako, huwezi kujua kaamka kavurugwa hasira zake na kaamua kukumalizia wewe, kesho mwenyewe akikaa atajuta na kukuomba msamaha.”
When translated, Diamond Platnumz said, 'When someone says something bad about you, it’s not that they hate you. They probably woke up moody. Avoid hating someone who says something bad about you, you never know when he wakes up with a temper tantrum and decides to end it on you, tomorrow he/she might regret it and apologize.'
Despite the petition, the Tanzanian government has recognized Diamond Platnumz's achievement and added that his nomination and hopefully win, will be influential towards boosting Tanzania’s economy.
