Cardi B Defends Tyla After Online Hate Over Racial Identity: ‘What Do You Want Her to Do?’
Cardi B and Tyla have found themselves mentioned together in conversations about the evolving landscape of global music, as both artists represent different but powerful waves in the industry. Cardi B, the Bronx-born rapper known for her larger-than-life personality and chart-topping hits, has built her career on unapologetic confidence and bold storytelling. Tyla, meanwhile, has been rapidly rising as one of South Africa’s breakout stars. She brings amapiano influences to the mainstream with her viral hits and unique sound. Recently, Cardi B stood up for Tyla after noticing the online hate that Tyla receives. Here’s what she said.
Cardi B publicly defended Tyla after haters online came after the South African star
Cardi B has no issue speaking her mind. On Aug. 13, 2025, she took to X Spaces to discuss celebrity fame and online hate. She noted that the online hate against South African star Tyla is completely unwarranted, and she’s not sure where it comes from.
“Whether I speak or not, people are gonna talk s***,” Cardi explained. “Look at Tyla. People have been dragging the s*** out of Tyla, and it’s like, the girl don’t even address or talk about nothing.”
Cardi went on to talk about how she believes “people just don’t like celebrities.”
“The only way that people like celebrities [is] if you don’t f***ing say nothing at all,” she added. “And they beat your energy, they beat your confidence, they beat you to the f***ing ground. I wanted to go out and crash out today because it’s like, I got so much s*** going on in my work life and in my personal life. But it’s like, alright. If it makes you b****es f***ing feel better to drag me and talk all this s*** about me, then alright, so be it.”
Cardi circled back to the Tyla situation after another fan asked. “All I do know is every single time I scroll down on my TikTok, there’s a video of her and people are talking s***,” the rapper noted. “And it’s like, god d***, what do you want her to f***ing do? Cut her f***ing veins? Enough! … I really think that that’s what you all be wanting.”
Tyla received a lot of heat after talking about her racial identity
South African sensation Tyla has recently found herself at the center of multiple online disputes. One major flashpoint was about her racial identity. She described herself as a “Coloured South African,” a term that carries very different connotations in South Africa versus the U.S. She has since clarified that she embraces both identities.
“You know that even if you give the best explanation, people will still choose not to understand,” she told British Vogue in March 2025. “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 South African singer called the controversy ‘really confusing’
Tyla’s fans continue to discuss her use of the term “coloured,” and many believe that the way she’s discussed her racial identity has lost her popularity. She spoke to Variety about the “confusing” controversy.
“That [controversy] was really confusing for me,” she said in August 2025. “I understood both sides of the story, but I was left asking, ‘OK, but what do I do now?’ When who you are is challenged, especially when it’s all you’ve ever known, it shakes you. You want to stand your ground, because if you don’t, someone else will try to define it for you.”
While Tyla’s fans may come and go, it seems Cardi B has her back for life.
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