Zimbabwe’s UFC star Themba Gorimbo and Zimdancehall music legend Winky D
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Themba Gorimbo was forced to temporarily deactivate his Facebook and X accounts after he received a vicious backlash from fans of Winky D after he suggested that the dancehall superstar’s fame is only confined to Zimbabweans.
In a controversial post, the MMA fighter who has garnered worldwide fame for his prowess in the ring found himself on the receiving end of insults from fans who felt he had downplayed Winky D and his achievements.
“Winky ndewe local chete guys. Numbers don’t lie handiti but at least I respect haana kuzotenga ma followers. Moana here imi vana local. Winky anozihwa nemi chete ma Zimbo,” he wrote in a post that was later deleted.
The post attracted immediate backlash from fans who felt that Gorimbo was now overestimating his popularity after some wins in MMA.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Gorimbo deleted the contentious post and clarified that his comments were meant as a joke. This did not seem to pacify fans of the dancehall chanter, who continued to pile on Gorimbo until he deactivated his accounts.
After losing in his UFC debut in February, Gorimbo has managed to attain three consecutive wins, with a victory over Ramiz Brahimaj by a unanimous decision in a match in Las Vegas, United States back in April being the latest.
X user The Instigator @Am_Blujay weighed in on the matter and said “Themba Gorimbo is proof that most people aren’t humble they are just broke, he was on TV crying that he had only $8 now he secured a few fights he is talking shit about people who bother Noone.”
Controversial blogger Shadaya Knight suggested that Gorimbo needed someone to help him manage his social media.
“Themba Gorimbo is proof of why most celebrities actually need management, especially to handle their social media accounts.
“Because let’s be realistic a majority of them are plain idiots, they live in their own imaginary world, out of touch with reality.
“For example Gorimbo is now so out of touch with reality ever since he was adopted by The Rock. The fame has gotten to his head, to a point he feels he can denigrate every other Zimbabwean celebrity, just for the sake of it.
“At the same time insulting fans, the very people who cheered for him in his grass to grace story. At the click of a button he has lost all the respect the people had for him. Over what?
Social media attention is indeed a drug
Learn OR perish!!!,” Shadaya said.