Tyla responds to ‘weird’ backlash she got over awkward VMAs 2024 moment: ‘STFU’

Tyla responded to the “weird” backlash she got for asking Halle Bailey and Lil Nas X to hold her VMA trophy during her acceptance speech.

“Y’all make everything weird,” she wrote on X Wednesday. “I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls, STFU I WON A VMAAAA.”

During the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, the South African singer took the stage to receive the Moon Person for best afrobeats video for her hit single “Water.”

Tyla responded to the “weird” backlash she got for asking Halle Bailey and Lil Nas X to hold her VMA trophy during her speech. Getty Images for MTV “Y’all make everything weird,” she wrote on X. “I was not asking my girl Halle… We just girls, STFU I WON A VMAAAA.” Tyllaaaaaaa/X During the 2024 VMAs, the “Truth or Dare” singer took the stage to receive the Moon Person for best Afrobeats video for her hit single “Water.” Getty Images for MTV

As Tyla, 22, began to speak, she struggled to hold the heavy statue.

“Oh my gosh,” she began. “You guys know me and holding awards. I am not strong enough.”

The “Truth or Dare” songstress then asked whether Bailey, 24, or Nas, 25, could hold her award while she finished addressing the crowd.

After the “Old Town Road” singer grabbed the Moon Person and the “Little Mermaid” star did not step forward to assist Tyla, fans began reading into the moment, and discourse started online.

“Halle said baby I am NOT the help. Hold your own award boo. Tyla tried it #VMAS,” wrote one person on X.

As she spoke, she struggled to hold her trophy and asked whether Nas or Bailey would grab it for her. Getty Images for MTV After the “Montero” singer grabbed the Moon Person and the “Little Mermaid” star did not step forward to assist Tyla, fans began reading into the moment online. Getty Images for MTV

“Tyla lost her mind u want Halle to hold your award bitch please. #VMAs,” added another.

“tyla can’t hold her own award??? halle looked at her like girl what #VMAs,” said a third user.

Despite fans’s assumptions, Bailey said there were no hard feelings on her end.

In response to Tyla’s post, the Chloe x Halle singer wrote, “exactly love u babes congrats.”

“Tyla lost her mind u want Halle to hold your award bitch please. #VMAs,” wrote one fan. Getty Images for MTV After the incident, the “Jump” singer went on to give her speech, calling her win “bittersweet” due to the “tendency to group all African artists under” one genre. FilmMagic

After the incident, Tyla went on to give her speech, calling her win “bittersweet” due to the “tendency to group all African artists under” one genre.

“The global impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music, too,” she said.

“This is just so special, but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats. It’s a thing, and even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.”

The other nominees were Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay for “Sensational,” Ayra Starr featuring Giveon for “Last Heartbreak Song,” Burna Boy for “City Boys,” Tems for “Love Me JeJe” and Usher featuring Pheelz for “Ruin.”