Award-winning DJ, businesswoman, and overall powerhouse DJ Zinhle has once again shown fans why she remains one of South Africa’s most respected figures. In a new TikTok video, the star opened up about something many people struggle with — dealing with criticism. The video, captioned “How do you deal with criticism?”, sees the superstar speaking honestly about the emotional and mental work it takes to face negative comments in the public eye.
@therealdjzinhle ♬ original sound – DJZinhle
In the clip, DJ Zinhle revealed that her approach to criticism was shaped by a conversation she had with Sweet Guluva. She shared, “I met Sweet Guluva and one of the questions he asked me was how do you deal with criticism?” This simple question opened the door to a deeper and very real reflection.
Zinhle admitted that negative comments do affect her, no matter how strong or confident she may appear. She explained, “I said when people say bad things about you it hurts, it’s how we deal with it. We need to acting like we don’t care no matter what you say. I care why would you just wake up and want to say something negative about me.”
Her honesty is refreshing. Many celebrities pretend they don’t notice or feel anything, but Zinhle wanted people to understand that even strong public figures are human. She added, “It’s how I deal with what you said. For me it’s whether that thing is true or not.”
What really hits home is when she talks about the type of criticism that cuts the deepest. “The things that hurt me are the things I know you’re right. Things that have a level of truth in them. Those things hurt me because then maybe I’m avoiding reflecting on those things and learning from those things.”
These words show maturity, self-awareness, and a willingness to grow — something not everyone is brave enough to do.
DJ Zinhle encouraged people to build a strong understanding of themselves so that outside opinions don’t shake them easily. She said, “We need to invest in knowing ourselves so that when other people give us information about who we are, we are ready to say ‘No, actually. That’s not who I am. That’s not what I stand for. You can’t just define me like that.’”
She ended with a powerful reminder: “Knowing yourself for me would be the best defence.”
Through her honesty, DJ Zinhle not only shared her personal blueprint for dealing with criticism but also inspired many to reflect on their own emotional resilience.
