When Tems speaks, the world listens—and this time, she’s not holding back.
The Grammy-winning Nigerian singer has slammed critics and body shamers with a message as clear as it is fierce: “Move on from my bum!”
The declaration came in response to a viral video that once again thrust her body, rather than her art, into public discourse. But Tems, known for her powerhouse vocals and soul-stirring lyrics, has made it crystal clear: she’s done letting her figure take center stage over her talent.
Baggy Beginnings and Studio Battles
In a candid sit-down with YouTuber Korty EO, Tems pulled back the curtain on her early days in the music industry. Wearing oversized clothes wasn’t a fashion choice—it was a shield. “I wore baggy clothes so they’d focus on my voice, not my body,” she confessed. With producers often distracted by her curves, the singer made deliberate efforts to keep her physical appearance under wraps just to be taken seriously.
But the cost was steep. Tems admitted to grappling with body dysmorphia, a struggle that warped her self-image and clouded her creative confidence. “There were times I didn’t even like my body,” she said. “I felt it was working against my dreams.”
From Silence to Storm: A Reclamation of Identity
Now, that silence is over. In an unfiltered tweet responding to backlash over a bold magazine cover, Tems snapped back at critics: “I don’t know who needs to hear this but I am not your Christian saviour. I didn’t come here to uphold your beliefs about God… I will not fit into this box you try to put me in.”
She added: “I’m gonna show off. You don’t like it? F*** you from the bottom of my heart.”
It’s the kind of clapback that doesn’t just shut down trolls—it rewrites the narrative entirely.
A Movement in Motion
Tems isn’t alone in this fight. Artists like Lizzo have championed body positivity, challenging the entertainment industry’s toxic obsession with perfection. Ariana Grande has called out body shamers for their invasive comments, urging fans to choose compassion over critique.
But what makes Tems’ stand unique is her refusal to allow her identity to be policed by tradition, religion, or public opinion. She’s not just defending her body—she’s reclaiming her space as a woman, an artist, and a cultural force on her own terms.
More Than a Voice—A Revolution
Tems’ unapologetic boldness is inspiring a new wave of authenticity, especially among young African women navigating beauty standards shaped by Western ideals and patriarchal pressure. Her message is loud and proud: you don’t have to shrink yourself to be seen. You don’t have to hide to be heard.
As her influence grows across borders, so does her message: own your body, own your power, and let no one reduce your greatness to a viral comment section.
And to anyone still obsessed with her behind?
She said what she said.
Move on.
