Twitter Is Divided About The New Cosmopolitan ‘Activism Issue’ Cover Featuring Nomzamo Mbatha
Tweeps are questioning what kind of 'activism' Nomzamo Mbatha has been involved in.
Cosmopolitan South Africa recently revealed their August cover. Their "The Activism Issue" features popular South African actress and presenter Nomzamo Mbathaas the cover star. While a majority of Mbatha's fans and counterparts were elated when they first saw the cover, not everyone is pleased.
Cut the pretty, let's talk about the real stuff! 🦅🦅
The FIRST EVER #ActivismIssue in celebration of Women's Month... an honour, thank you @CosmopolitanSApic.twitter.com/195LopQJBh
— Nomzamo Mbatha (@NomzamoMbatha) 22 July 2018
She's Oxygen galore. Inhale! https://t.co/6bIXtNWc5T
— Portia Gumede (@portiagumedesa) 22 July 2018
Loving this cover 👌🏾 https://t.co/WNi5oO0wsa
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) 23 July 2018
I just got my entire life handed to me by Nomzamo Mbatha and Cosmo with this here cover. Well go 'head with your bad self, Zamo! Don't hurt 'em! I'm going to need more emoji's somebody! 🔥🔥🔥😍😍😍🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽❤️❤️❤️✨✨✨🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/Voi8yExKnu
— Lerato Tshabalala (@LeratoTJ) 22 July 2018
Some tweeps aren't pleased with the art direction, while others, including outspoken poet Ntsiki Mazwai, are questioning what kind of activism Mbatha has been involved in.
Cosmo & activism? Y'all commercialise everything? pic.twitter.com/kogCwhf2OC
— Babes WePetition (@Neli_Ngqulana) 22 July 2018
What nonsense is this now? Nomzamo uzakudina naye ngoku. Still annoyed by her hijacking Mama Winnie's death, using it as bloody audition.
— Nangamso ka NomaHlubi (@NangamsoKoza) 23 July 2018
isn't cosmo the same magazine that routinely gives out advice on "how to know if he's cheating" and then "how to make him stay." or maybe i'm mistaken...
— naledi ya masa (@avatar_reso) 22 July 2018
This magazine has preyed on female insecurities and supported a world in which women exist to be desirable for men. This is one of the ones you needed to quit for your self-esteem. Hopefully this cover reflects feminist hires in the editorial & not a gimmick.
— First Do No Harm ✌🏾💖 (@jozisoul) 23 July 2018
I love Nomzamo but Cosmo messed up here. The photoshop on her cover is excessive to the point where she has no knuckles. She's so stunning as is, the retouching is supposed to highlight that but it ends up taking away from it. pic.twitter.com/5w5gcVz6Jf
— Mercia (@MissMercy_) 22 July 2018
There's a difference between acting like an activist and living like one. You know deep down the category you belong to.☺☺☺
— #Melanin_Is_A_Gift embrace it. (@T_of_collexion) 23 July 2018
Nomzamo keeps being positioned as an activist😂😂😂😂😂when? When has she EVER represented anything beyond her looks? https://t.co/420brOdR50
— MamkhuluMasterNtsiki (@ntsikimazwai) 23 July 2018
The criticism got onto Mbatha's radar, and she responded, in a since deleted tweet, to those who downplayed a dress she wore during her graduation ceremony in April at the University of Cape Town, while questioning her activism.
The dress featured portraits of her loved ones who have passed away. Explaining the dress in April, the star said, "I wanted the pictures of my late baby sister, Carla, late older sister, Matu, my late father, Nicholas Nxumalo and the greatest love of my life, the woman who named me Nomzamo, my late grandmother, MamJoli. The many tragedies I had to survive."
Hopefully, after reading the cover story, those who are in doubt will get clarity. Or not.
I mean nice cover but shouldn't the concept of a women's magazine been activism from the jump instead of constantly giving tips on sex positions & how to please men. But I guess, activism but make it sexy.
— Phiwomhle (@PeachSkwebu) 23 July 2018
That cosmopolitan feminism issue is triggering 🙄
— Ke Type Ya Ntatao Boy 🤞🏿 (@Kha_Modjadji) 23 July 2018
I was irked by the Cosmo "activism" edition with Nomzamo on the cover but I balanced myself because it's a glossy magazine not the Mail and Guardian. They sell glamour and what is relevant at the moment. Not hard-hitting socio-political journalism. Let it go, guys.
— Slay Queer (@Neo_url) 23 July 2018