"I know who I am" — Tyla opens up about recent identity controversy

South African singer Tyla has addressed the controversy surrounding her racial identity, particularly on being identified as both black and ‘colored,’ in response to the backlash she has faced in the past.

A report in The Independent indicated that the Water singer responded to the negative comments she received on a 2020 TikTok video in the March 2025 issue of the British Vogue, saying she had no control at that time. She elaborated:

“People took it and… It just went so far that I didn’t know what to do. The way people painted me… And I understand that word is a sensitive word to people, so I don’t blame people for being touched about it.”

The singer further told the British Vogue, as reported by Complex,

“You know that even if you give the best explanation, people will still choose not to understand.”

Tyla added:

“But I'm at a point where I know who I am. I know I'm a Black woman and I know I'm a Coloured woman as well and you can be both. And the people that care to learn, they understand now. And that's enough for me.”

The controversy arose from her 2020 TikTok video, which reportedly resurfaced in 2023. In the clip, she addresses herself as “Coloured South African,” explaining that she “comes from a lot of different cultures.”

A People report cites Britannica to understand what the term 'colored' means:

the term was used to classify people of color seen as in between white and Black and ultimately treat them as superior in society.

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Tyla makes her debut on British Vogue Cover

Tyla whose real name is Tyla Laura Seethal has been featured on the March 2025 cover of British Vogue as she is one of the most popular music artists and a rising star in the industry. According to a Billboard report, her 2023 track, Water surpassed one billion views on TikTok.

Speaking on her success, the South African singer told the magazine, as reported by Billboard:

“I really feel like I have changed so much since Water and my debut album. I have grown into a different version of myself. A little more spicy, a little more bold. I’m excited to just put that into the music.”

She further told Vogue:

“You know when you’ve always felt like you’re destined for something? That you’re going to make it one day? But then when it actually happens… It’s like something you can’t explain. It doesn’t feel real.”

According to Times LIVE, her cover was photographed by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by George Krakowiak. During her shoot, she wore multiple outfits designed by world-famous designers such as Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Jill Sander.

As far as the controversy surrounding her TikTok video is concerned, it is not the first time that Tyla has been questioned about it. According to a report in People magazine, the 23-year-old was asked to address the topic in June 2024 on The Breakfast Club but she chose not to speak.

"I didn’t want to explain my culture and something that is really important to me on a platform that is just going to be purposefully misconstrued," she told British Vogue, according to The Independent.

"I’ve explained it a lot of times before, but people took that and put words in my mouth. They said a whole bunch of things that I never said and ran with it." She added.

According to Wikipedia, Tyla released her debut album titled Tyla on March 22, 2024 which was followed by a deluxe edition, titled Tyla + released on October 11, 2024. The Grammy Award winner also performed at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last year in New York City.