Starting last Friday, fans took to Twitter in order to cancel rapper Doja Cat under the hashtag #DojaCatIsOverParty because of supposed racist behavior. Cat’s real name is Amalaratna Zandile Dlamini, and she is being accused of taking part in racist video chats, writing a song with a racist title and insulting black hair.

Let’s pause a bit on the last accusation. Afro-textured hair has been for ages a weapon for undermining black beauty through the use of qualifiers such as “Unkempt”, “Hard to manage” and so forth. African Americans may have had it the harder way because they felt a strong pressure to assimilate into the white culture of hair. Although Africans had more freedom when it comes to styling their hair, they too bought into the smooth feel of euro-typed hair. And even though young African girls did not have to, some mother were perming and hot combing their hair. African mothers would also use pejorative terms while struggling to comb their daughter’s hair. For a black girl to say she hates her hair, should be very common. It is therefore surprising that people would use someone’s self-appreciation as a weapon against a cultural imperfection that has been encouraged by many for decades. Black women still wear wigs, weaves and braids with fake hair right? But that’s not bashing black hair?

Since then, Doja Cat issued an apology and attempted to straighten some facts  then added “I’m a black woman. Half of my family is black from South Africa and I’m very proud of where I come from.” And for that comment, and that comment only, many Africans felt that Doja Cat was insincere on how she felt about the black side of her family. Although Doja Cat is not loud about her African origins, she did not try to hide them either. Her father is South African actor Dumisani Dlamini, best known for his role in 1992’s Sarafina! starring alongside Whoopi Goldberg. And when she first met Whoopi, Doja told her about her father and was open to the conversation. Still some people wondered on twitter why she did not claim her African side earlier. Others said that “her being South African doesn't excuse her behavior”, and begged her to “leave South Africa out of her mess”.  Other eyebrow-raising tweets accused mixed people like Doja to be extremely racist in South Africa. Needless to say South Africans did not have Doja’s back on twitter.

Doja Cat deserves to be cancelled. As a South African I am not surprised, a lot of biracial/coloured people have a similar attitude here in South Africa. They are only black when it suits them. https://t.co/O5tnhqXn3t

— Lev Mlindrish Lindokov (@Shelomohkeita) May 25, 2020

I saw that video but I feel like she didn't need to put SA on her apology at all. Anyone who follows doja cat knows her father is from South Africa and her being South African doesn't excuse her behaviour.

— Mathonn Honest (@MathonnHonest) May 25, 2020

Doja cat isn’t South African. We don’t recognise her 😳

— greyy• (@BuntuMkhonto) May 25, 2020

Doja Cat claiming to be South Africa after the backlash? Sis never said a word about her South African roots unless she is mentioning her deadbeat dad. What black family is she now talking about?

— Ayandamatsonyane Sotshisa (@Acesotshisa) May 25, 2020

Doja Cat “I’m a South African woman”
Naah sis, you belong to the states

— quarantino 🇲🇿 (@brownliquorbaby) May 25, 2020

So the one time when Doja cat is facing backlash for being a racist she wants to finally claim being South African💀💀

— Sii (@__Siiwe) May 25, 2020

I knew that #DojaCat would use how she is half south African to try and wiggle her way outta this mess pic.twitter.com/6sEE22RPfY

— 😍KARABO 😍 (@Kay_bunnie23) May 25, 2020

If y’all confused about Doja cat being potentially racist, just remember she is half South African...them Mfs more racist than the white Americans here in the U.S.

— Chioma ✨🇳🇬 (@finegalnopimple) May 22, 2020

Doja Cat aka Zandile Dlamini seeks Oppressor validation. U would think with a South African father she would want 2know her roots due to APARTHEID history but she wants none of that hence her interaction with racists & making fun of Black Americans while profiting off da culture.

— Kareem & Ali spoke on SOCIAL JUSTICE unlike Jordan (@DariusAintMad) May 23, 2020