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 RidÃculos 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.
