South African singer Tyla, one of the biggest, new global music acts of the moment, did an interview with The Breakfast Club recently and it reignited a cultural debate that has followed her throughout her budding career.

Tyla appeared on the morning show on June 13. During the interview, Charlamagne Tha God brought up the much-speculated topic of how the “Water” singer racially identifies herself.

“School me on these debates that they be having about your identity as a South African Coloured person,” he said. “What does that even mean?”

Instead of responding, Tyla turned in her chair to look at a representative from her team. “Can we not? Por favor?” they replied.

Charlamagne continued to push the issue by nudging the singer to respond. “I like that… I like when they talk from the back and say we can’t— that’s even better.”

Off-screen, the rep interjected before the conversation continued, urging the host to move on from the question. “Next one, please,” they said.

As the video went viral across social media, Tyla’s avoidance of the question led to conflicted thoughts.

One X (formerly Twitter) user insinuated that her refusal to answer was incriminating.

“Dodging such a simple question is suspect,” they said.

Another user provided an alternate statement that would have appeased both perspectives.

“Just say, ‘Where I’m from, we refer to it as coloured, in N. America and other parts of the world, you’d classify me as black,'” they suggested.

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