Influencer Nara Smith, known for promoting traditional wife views, allegedly plagiarizing content claimed by TikToker Onezwa Mbola from South Africa
In the world of social media, where content creation and popularity often go hand in hand, a recent controversy has arisen between two popular TikTok creators: Nara Smith and Onezwa Mbola.
Onezwa Mbola, a South African cooking creator with over 530,000 followers, participated in Master Chef South Africa season four in 2022. She is known for her soft and soothing voice and a rustic approach to cooking, often sourcing ingredients directly from her farm for her videos. Onezwa shares relatable lifestyle content focused on cooking for her family.
Nara Smith, a popular TikTok creator known for her cooking videos and lifestyle content, has 7.7 million followers on the platform. However, she has been accused of copying content from Onezwa Mbola, particularly in their cooking content. The accusation began when Onezwa's fans noticed similarities in their content.
The controversy escalated when Onezwa accused Nara of making money off her TikTok content. Nara, in response, claimed she has never seen Onezwa's videos and that she's not the first or last person to make boba tea, a popular dish among both creators. Interestingly, Nara posted a video making boba tea from scratch two days after Onezwa did.
The drama between the two creators has sparked a larger conversation about colourism in the entertainment industry. Electra Telesford attributes the difference in popularity between Nara and Onezwa to inequity in the TikTok algorithm. darker-skinned people have traditionally not been favoured for prominent roles or taken seriously for their actual talent in the movie business. Decision-makers in the industry look at beauty, then complexion, then artistry as a last metric to select black women.
Onezwa's fanbase has grown in support, with many expressing solidarity with her and calling out the alleged plagiarism. In response, Onezwa announced a break from TikTok, stating that a popular content creator has been using her ideas to gain views.
Nara Smith, unlike Onezwa, is believed to get paid for TikTok views. This has led to discussions about the parodies of Nara's lifestyle on TikTok, with some suggesting that they are a form of cultural appropriation.
The controversy serves as a reminder of the ongoing issues of colourism and cultural appropriation in the entertainment industry. As the conversation continues, both creators and their audiences are called to consider the impact of their actions and the importance of crediting original sources.
[1] For more information, please refer to the original articles on the subject.
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