Kay Yarms Calls Out SASMAs: “Please Don’t Vote for Me Either”

The South African Social Media Awards (SASMAs) are returning on November 22, 2025, and the buzz is already huge. With voting lines open until November 8, fans are excited to support their favourite online stars. But not everyone is happy with how the voting works — and two of Mzansi’s biggest personalities, Kay Yarms and Lasizwe, have spoken out.

The SASMAs are well-known for celebrating influencers, brands, and agencies that make a real impact on social media. Unlike other awards that only focus on marketing campaigns, the SASMAs give recognition to creators who shape conversations and influence culture online. For many, being nominated is a career highlight. But this year, some nominees don’t want the votes at all.

In a surprising move, Lasizwe posted a video on Instagram asking his fans not to spend money voting for him.

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A post shared by Lasizwe (@lasizwe)

“Please don’t vote for me,” he said. “These three nominations already mean my work is appreciated. That, for me, is a win.”

Lasizwe explained that voting comes at a cost. All SASMA categories require paid voting, where R10 gets you four votes. While the system funds the awards, he made it clear that it doesn’t sit right with him.

“The voting system costs money, and I do not believe you should have to pay to show support. That money could go towards bread, electricity, taxi fare and actual survival.”

For him, the real reward is the audience itself. “I cannot in good conscience ask you to spend your hard-earned money so I can hold a piece of glass that will collect dust. Your support, your comments, your views, your love. That is the real award.”

It turns out, Kay Yarms feels exactly the same way. The popular beauty influencer, nominated for Social Media Personality of the Year and Beauty Influencer of the Year, also asked her followers not to vote. On her Instagram stories, she wrote:

“I honestly didn’t even realize they were charging R10 for votes & every year something about these awards has never quite sat right with me, and while I can’t fully explain it, I’d prefer not to be part of it in that way bandla. With all due respect, please don’t vote for me either, I truly appreciate the love and support you guys always show me in my DMs, in my comments, Kwanele kumina.”

She went further, sharing her past experiences with the SASMAs. “Honestly these awards are just getting more scammy by the day, that’s why I don’t even bother resharing or reposting them. Biggest red flag for me was when they sent me an email one year sending me a script, that I should make a video encouraging my audience to vote for me to be nominated haibo why now. It’s giving ‘help us build our platform, then ask your audience to send us money through votes’ ngobani kanti?”

At the end of the day, one thing is clear: for both Kay Yarms and Lasizwe, their real award is the love they already receive from their fans.