Tanzanian music star Diamond Platnumz has addressed the recent controversy surrounding his role in the popular reality show Young, Famous & African, clarifying that the series is scripted and that his flirtatious behaviour was part of a character portrayal.
His comments come in response to a viral moment from the first episode of season 3, which premiered on Friday, January 17, 2025.
In the scene that sparked online outrage, Diamond dismissed his real-life relationship with fellow artiste Zuhura Othman Soud aka Zuchu, causing some viewers to believe he had publicly disrespected her.
This scene, in which Diamond adopts a womanizer persona, quickly became a hot topic on social media, with trolls circulating video clips meant to hurt Zuchu.
Diamond took to social media on Friday night to set the record straight, urging fans to understand that Young, Famous & African is a scripted show, where the drama is part of the entertainment.
He explained that his character on the show is that of a notorious flirt, a role he accepted as part of the storyline.
The Bongo singer cautioned against using edited clips from Young, Famous & African to hurt Zuchu, emphasizing that the show is scripted and he plays the role of a womanizer.
He urged fans to enjoy the drama of the show but to refrain from sharing clips that could harm Zuchu.
“Huo ni mchezo kama michezo mingine, ‘jua kali’ na kadharika, na character yangu humo ni hio ‘mtu wa totoz’… Tutazame, tuenjoy na tujivune kama Watanzania tumeua, na si kujaribu kukatakata vipande kwa lengo la kumuumiza Zuhura, si vyema,” Diamond wrote, emphasizing that the public should enjoy the show for what it is and refrain from using isolated moments to harm Zuchu emotionally.
Wasafi FM
This explanation follows closely on the heels of an unrelated drama that has played out between Zuchu and Diamond’s Wasafi Radio.
Just days earlier, Zuchu threatened legal action against Wasafi FM for defamation after a segment aired where she claimed the hosts mocked her.
The discussion included claims that Zuchu was desperately pressuring Diamond to marry her, a narrative Zuchu found deeply humiliating.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on January 16, 2025, Zuchu expressed her frustration, noting that this was not the first instance of mistreatment from Wasafi.
The artiste conveyed that the mockery had reached a tipping point, leaving her feeling emotionally drained.
As Young, Famous & African continues to captivate audiences with its high drama, it remains to be seen how the unfolding tensions will play out both on-screen and off-screen.
Fans are urged to view the program in the context of entertainment, as Diamond stresses that any resemblance to real life is purely coincidental and that the aim is to bring joy and not pain to those involved.
For now, viewers are left to navigate the blurred lines between reality and scripted drama, as the series promises more twists and turns in the coming episodes.
