Tyla Laura Seethal, the 23-year-old South African singer who soared to global fame with her 2023 hit “Water,” was once hailed as the “Queen of Popiano.” Her infectious blend of amapiano, pop, and R&B, coupled with a viral TikTok dance, made her a Grammy-winning sensation. But the fairy tale is unraveling. Jaguar Wright, the outspoken industry whistleblower, has dropped a bombshell, claiming Tyla is an “industry slave” used to push explicit content on children. With her latest EP, We Want to Party, debuting at a dismal 3.7K sales, rumors of deportation swirl, and her “colored” identity controversy has alienated fans. Is Tyla a victim of a sinister agenda, or did her own choices lead to her downfall?
The drama kicked off in late 2024, when Tyla’s EP flopped despite her billion-stream Spotify hit and heavy industry backing from Epic Records. Fans, especially Black Americans, dragged her online, calling her a one-hit wonder trapped in the “flop asylum.” The backlash wasn’t just about numbers—it was personal. A year earlier, Tyla sparked a firestorm by identifying as “colored” on TikTok, a term tied to her mixed-race South African heritage but a slur in the U.S. Her refusal to fully clarify on The Breakfast Club, dodging questions about her identity, tour cancellations, and injuries, painted her as aloof. “She stood on business,” one X user noted, “but lost Black America in the process.”
Jaguar Wright, known for exposing Hollywood’s underbelly, took it further in a November 2024 interview with Street Life Productions. She alleges Tyla was handpicked by industry elites—possibly linked to Clive Davis—for her youthful, “14-year-old” appearance to appeal to young girls and, disturbingly, predators. “She’s always half-naked, gyrating, pushing ‘Water’ lyrics on kids,” Wright said, quoting lines like “Can you blow my mind and set off my whole body? Make me sweat, make me hotter, make me lose my breath, make me water.” She argues these are inappropriate for Tyla’s 7-to-17-year-old fanbase, accusing her team of using her to “pollute young minds” under demonic contracts Kanye West once ranted about.
Wright’s claims resonate with Kanye’s 2022 warnings about industry deals that force artists into compromising acts. Tyla, Wright says, is a pawn in a game that mirrors the treatment of Aaliyah, used and discarded once her purpose was served. “They pumped millions into her, gave her a Grammy, and now they’re done,” Wright declared. The EP’s failure—3.7K sales against Water’s billion streams—suggests her label may be pulling the plug. Whispers of deportation add fuel, as Tyla’s U.S. visa reportedly hinges on her music career, now faltering.
The “colored” controversy is a sore point. In South Africa, “coloured” denotes a distinct mixed-race identity, rooted in apartheid’s segregationist classifications. Tyla, born to a Coloured family with Indian, Zulu, and Irish ancestry, proudly claimed this on TikTok in 2023, saying, “I come from a lot of different cultures.” But in the U.S., where “colored” evokes Jim Crow-era pain, fans felt betrayed. Her Breakfast Club appearance was a chance to bridge the gap, but her team banned questions about her identity, Chris Brown tour exit, and rumored ties to Kai Cenat. “She acted snobby,” one fan tweeted. Tyla later clarified on X, “I know I’m a Black woman and a Coloured woman,” but the damage was done.
Wright’s most chilling accusation is Tyla’s role in a predatory agenda. “Her aesthetic draws little girls and pedophiles,” she said, pointing to Tyla’s scant outfits and suggestive choreography. The “Water” video, with its Bacardi-inspired dance, went viral, but Wright argues it sexualizes a young-looking star for profit. “The local pedo’s watching Tyla videos with kids over for pizza,” she warned, painting a grim picture of exploitation. Fans on X echoed this, with one noting unease at lyrics like “Can you snatch my soul?” and Tyla’s Clive Davis sightings. “He’s why Diddy’s messed up,” they wrote, tying it to industry grooming.
Skeptics question Wright’s credibility, citing her legal battles and sensational style. No evidence confirms Tyla’s contract has “wild clauses” or that she’s being deported. Epic Records declined to comment, and Tyla’s team called the claims “baseless.” Yet the parallels to Lil Nas X—pumped up, awarded, then dropped—lend weight. Tyla’s Grammy for “Water” in 2024 felt like a peak, but her EP’s flop and tour pullouts signal trouble. Her injury, canceling a 2024 tour with Chris Brown, remains murky, with her team dodging questions.
Fans are split. Some see Tyla as a victim, groomed by a machine that exploits young talent. “She’s talented, but they’re using her,” one X user wrote. Others, especially Black Americans, feel she alienated them with her “colored” stance and explicit image. “She’s not for us,” another tweeted. The deportation rumors, while unconfirmed, stem from her visa’s reliance on music success. With We Want to Party bombing, her U.S. future is shaky.
Tyla’s story is a cautionary tale of fame’s dark side. From a Johannesburg teen posting covers to a global star, her rise was meteoric. But Wright’s exposé, backed by Kanye’s warnings and fan backlash, suggests she’s caught in a web of manipulation. Was she chosen for her look, her sound, or something sinister? As her star dims, the industry’s shadow looms large, leaving fans to wonder: is Tyla a flop by design, or a fighter who’ll rise again? One thing’s certain—the truth is as murky as “Water.”
