Joy Chauke, widely known as Mama Joy, has found herself under public scrutiny after commenting on the highly publicised divorce of South African rugby icon Siya Kolisi and his wife, Rachel. What seemed like a heartfelt reaction turned into a social media storm, with many accusing the vibrant sports personality of inserting herself into the narrative.
As the nation came to grips with the news of the Kolisi divorce, Mama Joy, a staple in South African sports culture, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her shock. Referring to her personal experiences with the Kolisi family during the Rugby World Cup in France, she expressed disbelief, mentioning how she had seen no signs of trouble in their marriage. She recounted how she was invited to the launch of the Kolisi Foundation in Paris, adding that their apparent happiness during the World Cup finals gave her no indication that their relationship was on the rocks.
Her post read:
“You invited me when you launched your @KolisiFdn in Paris. The video you played about your lives, guys, I didn’t see any sign of Divorce; RWC final, you came and fetched your family and celebrated with them inside the pitch. @SiyaKolisi, Am shocked.”
However, the social media universe saw her assertions as “insensitive”, and self-serving. As a result, Mama Joy faced a wave of criticism, with users suggesting her remarks were unnecessary and self-centered. Her shock was overshadowed by the backlash as many believed she made the divorce about her involvement with the couple.
One user, @odedanilo, bluntly responded, “Not everything is about you,” echoing the sentiments of many who felt her post was inappropriate given the sensitivity of the situation. Another commenter, @Scott_villa, remarked, “Joy, don’t be weird,” highlighting the growing frustration around her response.
