Ugandan music powerhouse Winnie Nwagi has once again made headlines, not for her electrifying performances or chart-topping hits, but for taking a firm, and physical, stand against sexual harassment during her shows.
During a recent performance in Rukungiri, the Swangz Avenue singer was caught on camera slapping a male fan in the crowd.
The video quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of controversy and criticism on social media.
Some clips even appeared to show her kicking the fan, portraying the incident as more aggressive than it may have been.
But in an interview with Mr. Henrie, Nwagi clarified the situation: yes, she slapped the man, and unapologetically so, but denied kicking him.
“People are just exaggerating it. That video was edited. It was simply a slap and no kick,” she explained. “There is a part in Batuleke where I need to do a little kicking. So they edited it and added to it, making it look like I slapped them and then I kicked.”
The artist said the edit distorted the truth and was crafted to portray her as violent, conveniently omitting the inappropriate behavior of the man involved.
“The person I slapped was disrespectful. Just that the person capturing the videos cannot get what that person did first. But when it comes to you, you only see my part, and it makes me look bad.”
Known for her bold and unapologetic persona, Winnie Nwagi isn’t backing down. Instead, she doubled down on her actions, promising to continue slapping men who grope or touch her inappropriately during performances.
“I will not stop saying that I do not want to be touched. It is disrespectful. Whenever it happens, I can’t stop slapping.”
While critics accuse her of being violent, many fans and women’s rights advocates are standing by her side, applauding her for calling out and fighting against sexual harassment in public spaces, something many female performers silently endure.
