Tyla hits back at critics for making 'everything weird' after awkward ...

Lil Nas X and Halle Bailey present Tyla with the award for Best Afrobeats for Water on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on 11 September 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

South African pop star Tyla has responded to online backlash after she asked rapper Lil Nas X and actor Halle Bailey to hold her MTV Video Music Award.Tyla, 22, won in the Best Afrobeats category for her hit song Water on Wednesday at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.Tyla wrote on X: "Y'all make everything weird… I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls, STFU I WON A VMAAAA [sic]."

South African pop star Tyla has responded to online backlash after she asked rapper Lil Nas X and actor Halle Bailey to hold her MTV Video Music Award.

Tyla, 22, won in the Best Afrobeats category for her hit song Water on Wednesday at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. She became the first South African to win a VMA.

Accepting her award at the event, Tyla joked about the award being heavy.

READ | 'Special, but also bittersweet': Tyla becomes first South African to win a VMA

"You guys know me and holding awards, yoh hai. I'm not strong enough," she said and asked presenters Lil Nas X and Halle Bailey to hold her trophy.

The Old Town Road singer came forward to help Tyla by holding her award while she gave an acceptance speech.

"Please, please, are you able to hold for me? Yes, thank you, I'm sorry," Tyla said to Lil Nas X while handing over the 'moonman'.

Social media users criticised the singer for this moment.

YouTuber Armon Wiggins wrote on the social media platform X:

"Hey I don't think I like TYLA's personality. I think someone needs to check her cus she doesn't understand American Culture AT ALL... she almost gives off entitled or uppity African idk how to explain it but it's very off putting and it's almost like she expects people to just fall to her feet [sic]."

Tyla had briefly changed her bio to "Entitled uppity African" on X as a response to Wiggins.

Tyla also posted, "Y'all make everything weird… I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls, STFU I WON A VMAAAA [sic]."

Halle Bailey also quoted Tyla, writing:

"Exactly, love u, babes, congrats."