Grammy-winning South African sensation, Tyla, has made it clear that she does not regret identifying as “coloured,” despite the backlash the term stirred among African-Americans.

The controversy began when Tyla publicly described herself as “coloured,” a racial term that is widely accepted in South Africa to refer to people of mixed descent. However, in the United States, the same word is considered outdated and offensive due to its links to racial segregation.

Following the uproar, Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage attempted to calm tensions during an interview on The Breakfast Club in the U.S., apologising on behalf of Tyla to Black Americans. Savage explained that as Tyla’s “elder,” she felt compelled to speak for her.

But the move didn’t sit well with many South Africans, who slammed Tiwa for overstepping and speaking for Tyla without understanding the context of South African identity and history.

Tyla herself seemed to dismiss the apology at the Global Citizen Festival in New York. Just before performing her track Mr Media, the “Water” hitmaker declared:

“Sorry, I am not sorry.”

The statement was widely interpreted as her way of distancing herself from Tiwa Savage’s remarks and reaffirming her pride in her identity.

Since then, South Africans have flooded social media with praise for Tyla’s bold stance, sharing clips of her performance and applauding her for standing firm despite international criticism.