Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Tiwatope Savage, widely known as Tiwa Savage, has disclosed new details about the 2021 sex tape scandal that rocked her career and personal life.
Speaking in a candid interview with The Breakfast Club, the singer revealed that the video’s release was not accidental, as she had initially been told, but was circulated as part of a bet made by her then-boyfriend and his friends.
Savage described the ordeal as “one of the most painful moments” of her life. She admitted that while she initially tried to cope by making light of the situation and channeling the emotions into her music, the deeper scars lingered.
“When I talked about the sex tape, that’s how I was able to try and get through it,” she said. “But in hindsight, did I really deal with it? I don’t think so. I was hurt. I was a victim.”
At the time, her boyfriend had claimed the video was leaked by accident when he mistakenly sent it. However, Savage later discovered it had been circulated as part of a cruel wager. “I later on found out that it was a bet with his friends,” she explained.
The backlash she faced from the public, she added, was almost as damaging as the leak itself. Many accused her of orchestrating the scandal for publicity.
“They thought I did it for PR. People said, ‘Oh, she’s not relevant anymore, she’s doing this.’ And I’m like, guys, trust me, if I wanted to do that, I would have had better lighting,” Savage said with sarcasm.
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Even more painful for her was the criticism directed at her role as a mother. “They brought my son into it and said I was unfit… my son’s gonna grow up and see this and be disappointed in me. That hurt me more than the actual tape,” she said.
Savage admitted the scandal had an emotional impact on her music. She revealed that recording her first album after the incident was particularly tough, with some songs still too raw to perform.
“There were a lot of times I was crying, especially the first record. Even now, I skip some songs when I listen back,” she confessed.
Despite the trauma, she credited her family, especially her mother, for helping her heal. “My mom called me and said, ‘Don’t listen to them… I’m just happy that you’re enjoying yourself.’ Hearing my mom say that helped,” she noted.
The singer also revealed that the experience changed her perspective on intimacy and relationships. She has remained celibate for three years and only considers intimacy meaningful within serious connections. She has also embraced therapy as part of her healing process, despite criticism from others who dismiss it.
“I’ve been married before, I’m 45, I’m good. Therapy helps me. I love my son, my team, my friends. That’s what matters,” she said.
Through it all, Tiwa Savage has continued to evolve as an artist and as a woman, turning one of her darkest moments into a story of survival and resilience.
