Saturday, November 11, 2017

Babes Wodumo lies, fails to fly to the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards; will be a no-show despite earlier promise; wanted Viacom Africa to pay for her flights and hotel.

 
The so-called Qqom Queen, Babes Wodumo has lied again, with the singer whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, who won't be at tomorrow's MTV Europe Music Awards 2017 despite her public promise last month that she would.

TVwithThinus can confirm that Babes Wodumo will be a MTV Europe Music Awards 2017 no-show as well where the 23-year old Durbanite with serious credibility issues has been nominated in the Best Africa act category at this year's awards show.

It comes after Babes Wodumo in mid-October promised that "I will definitely be attending the MTV awards. I have sorted out the visa. I am going".

It is the latest lie in a string of "fake news" from the upcoming singer that has marred her career trajectory and seriously damaged her industry reputation with a series of bizarre mistakes and destructive management and publicity decisions.

Last month Babes Wodumo revealed that she will have a reality show on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) starting in November, something that M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel immediately categorically denied.

Babes Wodumo was supposed to apply for an American visa in person to attend the BET Awards in America in June, but did interviews and attended parties like the sendoff party from the eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede using taxpayers’ money. Babes ended up unable to go.

Recently Babes Wodumo implored the South African public to help her search for her missing USB that according to her carried the link to a new song of hers.

The 24th edition of the MTV Europe Music Awards 2017 will take place in London on Sunday and will be broadcast on MTV (DStv 130). 

While at least one publicist from Viacom Africa and other African representatives jetted off this week from the continent sipping champagne in British Airways seats as they made their way to the UK capital and Heathrow International Airport, it was without Babes – despite her earlier promise that she will be there on Sunday too.

Besides Babes, artists like Nyashinski (Kenya), Nasty C (South Africa), Wizkid (Nigeria), Davido (Nigeria) and C4 Pedro (Angola) have been nominated for the 2017 MTV EMAs in the Best Africa category.

Babes Wodumo wanted Viacom Africa to foot the bill and to pay for her flights to London and her hotel stay – an expense that Viacom Africa says is the responsibility of individual artists.

In response to a media enquiry, Alex Okosi, executive vice president and managing director of Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) says Viacom Africa received written confirmation from Babes Wodumo's team that they "elected to not attend the MTV EMAs".

Viacom Africa was asked if it helped Babes Wodumo after she missed the BET Awards in June because of her visa issues.

"Our communication to all artists has always been equal and clear that VIMN Africa does not fly nominees to the MTV EMAs. We have confirmed this with all the nominees. As it relates to talent, we only fly performers to the MTV EMAs awards show," says Alex Okosi.

VIMN Africa says it supports local talent at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards and that tentpole events like these are indicative of VIMN Africa's commitment to elevating and unlocking Africa's artistic talent.

Viacom Africa says The Come Up host Luthando “Lootlove” Shosha will document the EMA journey for MTV Base along with uMswenko host Nomalanga Shozi.

Presenter Bontle Modiselle has also joined the MTV EMA "social squad" that includes 7 global social media influencers.

She will be streaming content from the weekend, alongside Brazil’s MTV Ridículos star Hugo Ross, Geordie Shore's Sophie Kaseai, Just Tattoo Of Us presenter Charlotte Crosby and two influencers from Germany, the vlogger Marcel better known as KsFreak and the YouTube sensation Manuel "Krappi" Krappinger.

Babes Wodumo's management couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.