Dumisani Dlamini – the father of US pop star Doja Cat – has broken his silence on long-running allegations he is a “deadbeat dad”.
This comes shortly after he made an unexpected stop at her first-ever South African concert – the Global Citizen Move Afrika concert at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena.
Doja was born in 1995 in the US to Dumisani and Deborah Sawyer, an American woman. He fathered another child, son Raman Dlamini, before returning to SA.
DUMISANI DLAMINI BREAKS SILENCE ON DOJA CAT RELATIONSHIP
In an Instagram post, Dumisani Dlami addressed widespread speculation that he abandoned his daughter, Doja Cat, real name Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini.
The Yizo Yizo and Sarafina actor claimed he decided to speak up to share his version of what had happened.
He said: “I want to tell you the facts. I’ve worked hard to make my name, my reputation. I’ve worked hard, I’ve fought for this country… with Sarafina. I have been sad, but no one knows why…”
Dumisani touched on meeting Doja Cat’s mother, Deborah Sawyer, in the US.
He continued: “You can’t be in a foreign country and find a woman, a white woman with three kids. And then you make two kids with her. And then she becomes so lucky that she gives birth to a superstar. She gives information to the superstar that her father is not a good man.
I’m talking about a white, Jewish woman.
He added: “I’m not going to be used by a white woman with three kids. I was feeding those kids with the money from Sarafina. I love my kids [and] I took care of her kids. Three white kids who hated me”.
Dumisani Dlamini revealed that Deborah came to South Africa, where she met his family.
“That white woman brainwashed my baby, that l had left her. I never left my kid. She played the cards, because of being influenced by her mother. She came to South Africa. She’s got power to see me, and she faked it.
Dumisani added that he was “a man of integrity, respect and love”.
He has since deleted the Instagram post.
‘TOUGH CHILDHOOD’
In an interview with IRL podcaster Angie Martinez last year, Doja Cat gave her fans a glimpse of her private life.
The mixed-race artist revealed she was one of five children, born to her mother, Deborah Sawyer, who starred in her recent music video, Gorgeous.
She said: “I had a tough childhood….Growing up with a single mother was a hard thing.
“I could never….She is incredible, the strongest mother. She taught me a lot of things and made me in some ways stronger.
Images via YouTube screenshot
Without mentioning her dad, Dumisani Dlamini, Doja Cat said her mother had “no help” raising her kids.
Doja claimed that her mother was her biggest fan.
“She is so supportive and so proud. And she tells me every day”, she added.