Simi Confronts Coordinated Online Harassment Campaign
Popular Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, professionally known as Simi, has issued an official statement addressing what she describes as a sustained wave of online bullying and malicious scrutiny. The controversy erupted after the music star made strong comments condemning rape culture on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, earlier this month.
Viral Rape Case Sparks Intense Social Media Debate
The situation began when a rape allegation went viral in mid-February 2026, with a young woman publicly accusing a man of sexual assault. As the internet divided between supporters and skeptics of the allegation, Simi weighed in with passionate commentary about sexual violence against women.
On February 17, the singer tweeted: "I'm sickkk of this. STOP RAPING WOMEN. They need to castrate rapists and burn them." When some users responded by questioning what punishment false accusers should face, Simi told them to "stfu" (shut the f*** up), later clarifying that her focus remained on the immediate issue of rape rather than hypothetical scenarios.
Backlash Escalates Into Coordinated Harassment
What followed was not simple disagreement but rather days of coordinated backlash against the singer and her spouse, fellow musician Adekunle Gold. Critics began digging up decade-old posts from Simi's X account dating back to 2012 and 2013, attempting to challenge her credibility and redirect the conversation away from sexual violence.
The resurfaced tweets referenced Simi's time working at her mother's daycare center, with some online users reframing innocent observations about children as inappropriate content. This malicious scrutiny included personal attacks mocking her family and sustained harassment campaigns.
Simi's Official Statement Addresses Past and Present
In her February 22 statement, Simi directly acknowledged the resurfaced tweets while firmly rejecting what she described as false narratives. "I haven't been on Twitter today - but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention, and I can't not address it," she began.
The singer clarified that in 2012, she was 23 years old and actively helping at her mother's daycare while simultaneously building her music career. "Nothing I tweeted was from perversion," she asserted, explaining that she had tweeted freely about her daily life, including humorous or affectionate observations about children she interacted with professionally.
"What I can't let anyone do is twist my story to fit false narratives," Simi declared, addressing her decision to delete some old posts as a protective measure for her family rather than an admission of guilt.
Unwavering Commitment to Anti-Rape Advocacy
Throughout her statement, Simi emphasized her longstanding commitment to speaking out against sexual violence. "I have always spoken against rape and sexual assault, even before you knew I existed. It's not a costume I'm wearing, it's who I am... I said stop raping women. I stand by it," she affirmed.
The singer positioned the controversy as a deliberate distortion of her record rather than legitimate criticism, noting that the timing of the attacks coincided precisely with her increased activism against rape culture. She rejected attempts to redefine her past through what she characterized as a hostile lens designed to silence women's voices online.
Industry Support and Fan Backing
Despite the intense backlash, Simi has received substantial support from her core fanbase and industry colleagues. Many supporters argue that the resurfacing of old tweets represents a calculated distraction from her important stance against rape culture rather than genuine concern about accountability.
Supporters maintain that the coordinated harassment campaign feels more like punishment for her recent activism than legitimate criticism, with fans rallying around the singer's refusal to be silenced by what she describes as "faceless trolls."
Broader Implications for Online Discourse
This incident highlights growing concerns about coordinated online harassment campaigns targeting public figures, particularly women who speak out on sensitive social issues. The controversy demonstrates how social media platforms can become battlegrounds where legitimate discussions about important topics like sexual violence become derailed by personal attacks and malicious scrutiny of historical content.
Simi's firm response represents a growing trend among public figures who are pushing back against what they perceive as attempts to silence advocacy through harassment and character assassination rather than substantive debate.
As conversations continue across social media platforms, Simi's position remains unwavering: she continues to advocate against sexual violence while rejecting attempts to redefine her past or undermine her credibility through what she views as deliberate misinterpretation and coordinated online bullying.
