Each year, the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) aren’t without their fair share of drama and this year’s ceremony was no different.

Musician Kelly Khumalo quickly eclipsed every other headline about the awards show when she had a meltdown about not winning in the categories she was nominated.

“Angenesabi nonke!” posted Khumalo on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), declaring that she did not fear anyone.

Kelly Khumalo xin lỗi vì những bình luận kỳ thị người đồng tính sau bài đăng trực tuyến về SAMAs | Cuộc sống

“Haibo. Le Ntokozo?” (No way, even Ntokozo?) asked user @emkayreloaded (referencing Gospel singer Ntokozo Mbambo), to which Khumalo enthusiastically responded, “Yes!”

“Beningaluthathi ngani ucingo? I said what I said bye,” she posted the following morning, doubling down on her comments. The initial comment taken in context seems to have been a question for her followers about why they didn’t answer her figurative call.

Her comments quickly turned from insults to homophobic comments as she responded to criticism with insults based on a few X users’ sexuality.

Khumalo – a past winner of some Feathers Awards – later apologised despite earlier posts insisting that she meant every word of what she said and would not be apologising for anything.

Her apologies to the LGBTQIA+ community fell on deaf ears as most social media users felt she was only apologising to avoid suffering the consequences that come with publicly posting bigoted statements.

Lưu trữ Kelly Khumalo | BN Style

Her followers also asked if her comments meant that she felt as though Mbambo didn’t deserve her awards. The singer won three major awards on Saturday night, including Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Contemporary Faith Album of the Year.

“Words fail me!!!! I’m in awe of God, His faithfulness, His favour and His love! Thank you @Koko_Records @NqubekoMbatha and @TeekayMthembu and the whole team, thank you @WyzMedia,” tweeted Mbambo on Saturday night.

Hoàn toàn không thể tin được' - Mzansi phản ứng với việc Kelly Khumalo được cho là đã ra lệnh tấn công Senzo Meyiwa

Speaking to eNCA’s Thami Ngubeni on Monday morning, Mbambo said she was at peace going into the awards, grateful for the nominations and not necessarily expecting anything.

“Scripture says that he is faithful even when we are faithless and that’s exactly what happened this past weekend,” said Mbambo, who was on a victory lap on Monday morning.

Mbambo is currently on the interview trail after her win and has not responded to Khumalo’s posts.