There are arguments that belong in private and there are disagreements that turn into public property the moment cameras or confession clips find their way online.
The long-standing rift between Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay has lived in both worlds. It gave us a viral salon confrontation in 2021, months of side talk and subtle jabs, and now it has produced new clarity from Tiwa herself.
In a recent interview on the Off Air Show with Gbemi and Toolz, Tiwa finally opened up about what really went down and addressed the constant whispers that she tried to block another woman’s success.
How It All Began
Recall that viral moment inside a Lagos salon in June 2021.
The video showed Tiwa warning Seyi Shay not to greet her, explaining that there was an unresolved issue between them. That brief, heated exchange went on to define their relationship in the public eye.
It became one of the most talked-about celebrity confrontations of the decade. Overnight, social media became a courtroom where fans took sides, dissected body language, and apportioned blame.
That single clip turned what could have been a quiet misunderstanding into a running headline.
Years Of Tension And Unanswered Questions
After the salon scene, things grew quieter but never truly settled.
Both artists occasionally threw subliminal references through interviews or music. The public sensed that something deeper lay beneath the surface.
Then, Seyi Shay reignited the conversation in a recent interview on the same Off Air Show. She revealed that a former personal assistant had confessed to having an affair with Tiwa’s ex-husband, Tunji Balogun, better known as Tee Billz. According to her, the assistant admitted the incident and apologised, saying it had played a role in ruining their friendship.
This revelation gave netizens a brand-new angle on an old story. What had seemed like industry rivalry suddenly took on the shape of personal betrayal. In Seyi Shay’s words:
“To cut the long story short, it turns out the girl was having a relationship with my girl’s [Tiwa Savage’s] husband and I didn’t even know. She [my ex-PA] told me all of that. It must have been true; I don’t think she would say all of that as a joke.
“When she told me this I was disgusted because we were rolling together and doing things together, meanwhile Tiwa probably thought I knew about it. You can just imagine the anger. It’s so painful. If that was me, I would have done worse.”
Tiwa’s Turn To Speak
Now, Tiwa Savage has given her own version. On the latest episode of Off Air, she addressed both the feud and the recurring claims that she “blocks bags” or stops other female artists, including Seyi Shay and Victoria Kimani, from thriving.
In a calm but firm tone , Tiwa said:
“That was painful, and I didn’t know where it was coming from. Till today, maybe I need to have a conversation with Shay.
“I heard that they thought I blocked their bag.
How? If you’ve heard from anybody that I tried to block your bag, mention the person so I can address it.
I would never do that. I’m so pro-women.”
She further recalled how, contrary to the claims, she had lost a major endorsement deal to Seyi Shay years back when she was pregnant with her son, Jamil. She continued:
“When I got pregnant and had Jamil, I was taken off a Pepsi campaign, Longer Throat, and Shay was booked on it.
“Go back and check it, Shay was a brand ambassador, I wasn’t.
“I was taken off because I couldn’t snap back in time. So how am I stopping other people’s bag? l wasn’t even mad at her. I was mad at me. And so I got in the gym and got my body back.”
Regarding the 2021 salon altercation, Tiwa Savage also explained that her reaction at the salon came from a place of honesty. She was not going to pretend that things were fine when she still felt betrayed. She said:
“If someone hurts me, I will say it. What I won’t do is act like we are cool just because cameras are around.”
Tiwa hinted that the salon confrontation was triggered by Kizz Daniel’s Fuck You challenge which Seyi Shay took part in to shade her.
Recall In 2019 Seyi Shay joined the viral “Fvck You Challenge,” a freestyle trend that had artists recording their own versions of Kizz Daniel’s song. Her entry included lines that many fans interpreted as subtle jabs at Tiwa Savage. Phrases like “You know I’m not savage, I pay my bills” were taken as direct shots, suggesting competition and resentment between the two stars.
The shade did not go unnoticed. Netizens immediately linked it to previous whispers in the industry that there had been tension over song credits and brand deals. There was also talk of disputes around a song titled “Lova Lova,” which Seyi Shay co-wrote with Ceeza Milli. According to her, she was not properly credited when Tiwa released the hit. The story gained traction and fed the narrative that things were far from friendly between both women.
When Gender Complicate Things & Tiwa’s Truth
The Tiwa and Seyi saga has become bigger than just two stars at odds.
It has exposed how quickly women in entertainment are judged when private pain turns public.
Accusations about “blocking bags” stick easily because the industry often pits women against each other for limited space. Allegations involving infidelity hit harder because they tie professional credibility to morality.
When the rumour involves a personal assistant, a former spouse, and two women at the top of their game, it becomes a storm that the internet cannot resist.
And to think according to Tiwa, it was the diss track that sparked the feud in the first place.
Tiwa’s insistence that she never sabotaged anyone goes beyond defending herself. It challenges a tired narrative that successful women in entertainment must have hurt other women to get ahead.
By setting the record straight, she is reclaiming control of her story and pushing back against a culture that thrives on tearing women down.
The Bigger Picture & Take-home
Seyi Shay’s confession, whether complete or partial, opens questions about privacy and integrity. Questions like ‘should such matters be discussed publicly?’, ‘does revealing an alleged affair bring healing or does it reopen wounds for everyone involved?’, gets asked.
There is also a lesson here about how the entertainment industry handles conflict. The constant recycling of private pain for public content has made empathy rare. Managers, assistants, and close friends become collateral damage in stories that were never theirs to tell.
The Tiwa–Seyi timeline now reads like a cautionary tale about loyalty, communication, and the cost of silence.
If this story teaches anything, it is that not every disagreement should become viral theatre. The Nigerian entertainment scene needs a stronger culture of conflict resolution and less dependence on social media drama.
Imagine what could happen if artists sought mediation rather than mutual dragging. If marketers or show promoters focused on reconciliation instead of views. If the audience stopped rewarding conflict with clicks.
That shift would protect artists, families, and even the fans who invest emotionally in these stories.
Conclusion
Both Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay are powerhouse performers who have shaped Nigerian music in different ways. What happened between them may never be fully understood by outsiders, and perhaps it should not be.
What matters now is how both women choose to move forward with peace and the wisdom that comes from surviving public scrutiny.
The truth is that feuds fade but lessons remain.