South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla has addressed allegations that she is a “mean girl,” saying she sees herself as a kind person despite her blunt and opinionated nature.

The singer made the remarks during a recent interview with Ebro on Apple Music, where she spoke about how her upbringing has shaped her communication style.

Tyla explains her personality

“Hmm, maybe I am. No, I’m joking, I’m joking, I’m joking. I mean, I don’t know, you know? I don’t know if I’m mean. I like to think that I’m kind, you know? I really am opinionated and blunt. Like, where I’m from, like the way we are, we just talk. Like, things aren’t that serious. We don’t know how to watch our words, like, ‘This is not the time, this is not the place.’ Like, we’re not that dramatic. We’re human, guys, relax. Like, we can all talk. You know, so I feel like I just try to be honest about how I feel about things, you know? Um, yeah, but it’s hard, you know? As a pop star you got to be a good girl. You know?”

According to the 24-year-old star, people from her community are often open about their feelings and opinions. She said she prefers honesty and does not want fame to change who she is.

Fame and freedom

Tyla also revealed that her management team regularly advises her to be more careful about what she posts online. However, she said she wants to enjoy life like any other young adult.

“I mean, I don’t. But my managers, they always try to like shackle me. They’re like, ‘Tyla, put your phone down. Stop making videos, stop talking.’ And I should probably listen to them. But I don’t know. I just think it’s more interesting, you know? I still want to be a 24-year-old girl, you know? I don’t want being a pop star to stop my life and make me feel like now I’m in jail and I have to let things slide and all those things.”

New album out now

The interview comes as Tyla promotes her sophomore album, APOP*, which was released on July 24, 2026. The project aims to showcase her identity as an African pop star while challenging stereotypes about African music and culture.

The 14-track album features guest appearances from Liquideep, Zara Larsson, Mahwoo and Babalwa M. Industry observers expect the project to build on her growing global success following her performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the strong streaming numbers recorded by her hit single Chanel.