Tyla Stops the Show to Save a Fan at Global Citizen Festival

Grammy Award-winning South African singer Tyla delivered a powerful performance at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York City but showed that her heart is just as big as her talent when she paused mid-song to help a fan in distress.

The festival took place on Saturday, 27 September, at the famous Great Lawn in Central Park. Tyla, 23, was performing her global hit Water in front of more than 60 000 fans when she suddenly noticed trouble in the audience. Without hesitation, she stopped the music and pointed out the situation.

@itsthespotlight Tyla interrupted her set during New York’s Global Citizen Festival to make sure a fan in the crowd was okay. #tyla #glibalcitizen #newyork ♬ original sound – The Spotlight

“Someone needs help here? Are you guys okay?” Tyla asked as she motioned to her DJ to pause. “Guys, they need help over there. Sorry, stop [the music].”

Once the fan received assistance and the situation calmed down, Tyla checked again with the crowd: “You good? Everybody okay? Should I sing it again?” Her quick response was met with cheers as she restarted the performance. The moment reminded fans that beyond her rising global stardom, Tyla’s compassion and care for her audience shine just as brightly.

Tyla was one of many international stars who took to the stage for this year’s Global Citizen Festival. The line-up featured huge names like Cardi B, Shakira, Ayra Starr, Rosé of BLACKPINK, Rema, Mariah the Scientist, Camilo, and Elyanna. Together, the artists helped raise awareness and funds for important causes including energy access in Africa, protecting the Amazon rainforest, and providing children with quality education worldwide.

The Johannesburg-born star kicked off her set with one of her newest songs, Is It, from her latest EP WWP (We Wanna Party). She also performed Truth or Dare and Dynamite, her hit collaboration with Nigerian superstar Wizkid. The crowd sang along loudly, proving Tyla’s fast-growing international fanbase.

Tyla kicks off her Global Citizen Festival set with “IS IT.” pic.twitter.com/WJv0PiGqVC

— Tygers Access 🚧 (@TygersAccess) September 27, 2025

Despite her success, Tyla has also been at the center of conversations off stage. Recently, Nigerian music legend Tiwa Savage addressed Tyla’s ongoing identity debate during an interview on The Breakfast Club. Tyla has faced criticism for describing herself as “coloured” in the United States, where the term is considered offensive, unlike in South Africa where it is part of official identity classifications.

When Asked About Tyla’s ‘Colour’ Comment, Tiwa Savage Shared Her Perspective. pic.twitter.com/mp8mcmCeFa

— 𝗧𝗶𝘄𝗮’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱⚔️ (@savagesourcee) September 25, 2025

Savage, 45, explained that she understood the sensitivity of the term in America but felt sympathy for Tyla, who is still very young. “I would get why that would be such a huge thing here, because of the history behind that name,” Savage said. “I think I felt for her a little bit because she is young and I do not think she means to come across like that.”

She added: “Where I am from, when something like this happens, the elderly would come and speak ‘on behalf of’. We apologise. So if that was not communicated, I would like to say on behalf of her, we apologise. We did not mean it, forgive us. I do not think it came from a bad place.”