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‘Coming in hot’: Rachel Kolisi responds to surname backlash?

Posted on September 24, 2026
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Rachel Kolisi, the ex-wife of Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, seemingly responded to criticism regarding keeping her surname, via an Instagram video on

A video of Rachel Kolisi singing along to Ne-Yo’s hit song Miss Independent has gone viral on social media hitting around six million views. Rachel, who was giving a key note address at an event, where she confidently sang and danced in front of the audience, caught the attention of social media users as her video currently has 2.9 million views on TikTok and 3.1 million on Instagram. Take a look…

@rachelkolisi

📍✨

♬ original sound – Rachel Kolisi

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS REACT TO VIDEO

While many social media users loved that Rachel appeared to be healing, glowing and more confident others picked on her keeping the Kolisi surname.

“Miss independent but she doesn’t have her own surname 🤷‍♂️,” wrote alexrichards88.

“Miss Independent… Last name ‘Kolisi’ okay,” wrote Nkaisana_m.

“Why she kept his surname?” wrote Keegan.

“Miss independence but still holding on hard to the surname 😂😂😂😂,” wrote johannes_theodore.

The author and director is known for keeping things light hearted and funny when responding to criticism on social media in recent years. Early in the morning on Tuesday 22 September, Rachel shared a video of herself at the airport, where she appears to have referenced the surname backlash in the caption.

“First name. Last name. Same same,” she wrote in a video where she is seen rolling on her luggage, headed to the Eastern Cape.

“Eastern Cape, I’m coming in hot 😅 @falling forward,” she captioned the post.

Take a look…

@rachelkolisi Eastern Cape, I’m coming in hot 😅 @falling forward ♬ They See Me rollin songvibezz – 🎵💯🤝

Fans, this time around commented on how “cool” Rachel is and why they feel she deserves to keep the Kolisi surname.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me she was this cool,” wrote Missrallz.

“If my husband and I were to divorce best believe I’m keeping that surname.My life,my choice!I’m not gonna be subjected to anyone’s preference but my own,” wrote call.me.mrs.bacon.

“It’s so much easier for moms and their kids to have the same surname. Otherwise it becomes a nightmare especially where parental consent is concerned. I understand women with young kids that don’t change their martial surname after a divorce, it’s for the best. My sister used to struggle with her son cause he had his father’s surname after they split. She had to call him for everything,” wrote prettysam.

“The surname is not just a name, it’s BRAND! A brand that she played a HUGE role in building!!!!” wrote itskamo.

RACHEL PREVIOUSLY REVEALED WHY SHE WAS KEEPING HER SURNAME

Rachel previously addressed this in an interview with 947FM, stating that she kept her surname because of her kids. The author and director has two kids – Nicholas (12) and Keziah (9) with Siya.

“My children share the same surname as me, and travelling with my children, because they are brown, is already a big challenge. Sometimes I get stopped at gates and people want to double-check certain things, so it would be a really big challenge for me, so I’m keeping my surname,” she said.

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