South African singer Tyla faced backlash for her acceptance speech at the 2024 MTV VMAs after winning the Best Afrobeats Award for her single 'Water.' Fans criticized her for asking Lil Nas X to hold her award, calling her behavior 'tacky' and inappropriate. Additionally, Nigerian media personality Do2dtun condemned her for stating that African music is broader than Afrobeats, arguing that she should have rejected the nomination if she felt miscategorized. He claimed her acceptance undermined the genre during a significant global moment. The debate highlights ongoing discussions about the representation and categorization of African music internationally. Tyla's comments sparked a divide among fans and industry figures regarding genre identity and recognition.