Jonasi opens up on public perception after starring in The Polygamist
By Paulette Mboga, July 21, 2026South African actor S’dumo Mtshali, who starred as Jonasi in the South African drama, has responded to being described as the “most hated man on Netflix” following his role as Jonasi in The Polygamist.
The actor has been trending since the series was released, with many people associating him with the character he plays.
During an interview with Larry Madowo that dropped on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, S’dumo was asked if he was ready to accept the title of the most hated man on Netflix because of his performance in the series.
“I will own it. I will own the title. It’s okay, for now,” S’dumo Mtshali said.
The actor was also asked whether people approach him as Jonasi and react to him because of the role. S’dumo explained that many people still call him by the character’s name, even though he has played other roles in his acting career.
“Yeah, I am still being called, yeah, it is weird….but yohhh Jonasi! Come on guys, we are stretching this thing, we can do other characters,” S’dumo Mtshali said.
Embracing the role
S’dumo said he understands why people have connected him so strongly with Jonasi. He explained that reading the script several times helped him understand the responsibility that came with bringing the character to life on screen.
“So, but it is great, man; it is a great feeling for the industry. Just reading the script over and over again, so I really understood that responsibility. This character was going to put me in bad light. I knew this is not Polygamy, this is dirt,” S’dumo Mtshali said.
The Polygamist became one of Netflix’s most talked-about releases after all 22 episodes premiered on Friday, June 12, 2026. The drama is adapted from a novel and follows the lives of wealthy people in Johannesburg, where power, money and relationships create serious personal problems.
The story centres on Jonasi Gomora, a powerful banking tycoon whose successful public life begins to fall apart because of his personal decisions. Although he appears to have a successful career and a high-profile marriage to social media influencer Joyce Gomora, his private life is filled with secrets, manipulation and emotional struggles.
S’dumo’s performance as Jonasi has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the series. His comments show that he expected the role to attract strong reactions and understood from the beginning that the character would not be viewed positively.