At the 2024 MTV VMAs on Wednesday, September 11, Tyla won the Best Afrobeats award for her hit song “Water.” While accepting the Moonperson, she proudly celebrated her African roots and addressed the “tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats.” However, a lighthearted moment during her speech stirred some chatter on social media.
Adding a playful touch, Tyla jokingly asked presenters Halle Bailey and Lil Nas X to help hold her Moonperson award, saying she wasn’t strong enough to carry it. However, the lighthearted request sparked some controversy on X (formerly Twitter), with fans debating whether she was being disrespectful. In a video circulating online, some viewers felt Halle Bailey hesitated before Lil Nas X stepped in to help, with user @_loveRachel_commenting, “Halle said she is NOT the help!” Another user, @ArielEsq305, added, “That was so annoying and why people don’t like her now… they only gave her that award because Burna Boy wasn’t there.”
Tyla quickly shut down the rumours, taking to X to clarify the situation. “Y’all make everything weird… I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls, STFU I WON A VMAAAA,” she posted, putting an end to the speculation. Her fans jumped to her defense, with one user, @lookinass, replying, “You know they love being mad at nothing,” and another, @nobydy661, adding, “Sorry they’re taking from your moment!”
Despite the buzz, Tyla’s historic win as the first female African artist to claim a VMA remained the focus of her momentous night.
Halle said she is NOT the help! 
#VMAs
— Rachel. (@_loveRachel_) September 12, 2024Meanwhile everyone else held their statute that was so annoying and why ppl don’t like her now… they only gave her that award bc burna boy ain’t come
— Ariel Mitchell-Kidd Esq. (@ArielEsq305) September 12, 2024You know they love being mad at nothing
— d$ (@lookinass) September 12, 2024
