A tense confrontation between media personality and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo and controversial traditionalist Ngizwe Mchunu played out in full view at the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards afterparty, with videos of the incident spreading rapidly across social media.
According to footage circulating online, Mchunu approached the VIP area where Somizi was seated and extended a hand in greeting. Somizi declined the handshake and immediately instructed security personnel to prevent Mchunu from entering the tent.
The snub, far from a quiet moment, quickly drew attention at the afterparty. Mchunu, visibly rattled by the public rejection, responded with a stream of insults before being escorted away from the area.
The roots of the confrontation run deeper than a single evening. Mchunu has previously made public homophobic remarks directed at Somizi and the broader LGBTQ+ community, comments that drew widespread condemnation at the time. Somizi’s refusal to engage appears to be a direct and deliberate response to that history.
Somizi, one of South Africa’s most prominent openly gay public figures, has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has not shied away from confronting homophobia in public life. His decision to bar Mchunu from his space rather than brush off the encounter sent a pointed message to those watching.
The incident has reignited debate on social media about accountability for public figures who make homophobic statements, with many rallying behind Somizi’s response as a firm but measured act of self-respect. Others have questioned whether the public nature of the snub risked escalating an already fraught dynamic between the two men.
Neither Somizi nor Mchunu has issued a formal statement at the time of publication.
