Nigerian music star, Tiwatope Savage, popularly known as Tiwa Savage, has opened up on the circumstances surrounding her 2021 leaked sex tape, describing it as one of the darkest experiences of her life.
She revealed that the footage, which caused widespread controversy, was released as part of a bet and not an accident as she was initially made to believe.
Speaking in a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, released on Tuesday, the award-winning singer recounted how the incident affected her career, emotional health, and personal relationships.
Savage explained that she initially tried to mask the pain through humour and by pouring her emotions into her music.
However, she admitted that the trauma was deeper than she had allowed herself to accept at the time.
According to her, “When I talked about the sex tape … that’s how I was able to kind of like, try and get through it. But in hindsight, did I really deal with it? I don’t think so. I was hurt… I was a victim.”
The singer disclosed that her then-boyfriend had claimed the tape got out by mistake, but she later discovered it was intentionally shared among his friends.
“He said he was trying to save it, and then he pressed send by accident… I later on found out that it was a bet with his friends,” she said.
She noted that some people assumed the scandal was a publicity stunt to revive her career, but she dismissed such suggestions.
“They thought I did it for PR. A lot of people thought, ‘oh, she’s not relevant anymore, and she’s doing this.’ And I’m like, guys, trust me, if I wanted to do that, I would have had better lighting,” she remarked.
Although there were attempts to pursue justice, Savage said the emotional toll was overwhelming and forced her to let the matter rest. “We tried, actually. But yeah, we couldn’t. And me trying was just, it was just too traumatic for me to keep talking about it. I just wanted to move on from it,” she explained.
The Afrobeats star said the backlash and public criticism she faced, particularly attacks on her motherhood, were even more painful than the tape itself.
“They brought my son into it and said I was unfit… my son’s gonna grow up and see this and he’s gonna be disappointed in his mom. That hurt me more than the actual thing,” she said.
Savage also admitted that the experience has shaped her artistry, with certain songs on her album still too emotional for her to perform.
“There were a lot of times I was crying, especially the first record. That took me like four attempts to record. Even now when I listen to the album, I skip that. I haven’t been able to perform it. It was tough,” she revealed.
She acknowledged the role her family played in helping her endure the storm, highlighting a conversation with her mother as particularly comforting.
“My mom called me and said, ‘don’t listen to them… I’m just happy that you’re enjoying yourself.’ Hearing my mom say that helped,” Savage added.
Beyond family support, the singer said she has also embraced therapy as a tool for healing and reshaping how she approaches love and relationships.
“For therapy, yeah, a lot of people say to me you’re wasting your money. I’m like, what? I love my son, I love my team, my friends. I’ve been married before, I’m 45, I’m good,” she said.
Reflecting on her personal life, Savage disclosed that she has remained celibate for three years and only considers intimacy meaningful when shared with someone she deeply connects with.
“I don’t know if I don’t come attached. I’ve gone like maybe three years without. I have to be with someone for me to even think about it. I don’t have toys… maybe that’s what people should get me for Christmas,” she joked.
