TBN channel director and one-third of musical trio The Bala Brothers, Loyiso Bala, trended on Monday evening for what some have dubbed as veiled homophobia towards his openly gay younger brother Phelo Bala.
Loyiso, who is also a minister, took to Twitter and Instagram and posted the following birthday wish:
“Blessed to have spent some quality time with my brother @PheloBala the past few weeks. As I said to him, “I’m in no position to judge u but to love you and to always point you to Christ. Your relationship with him will define your life’s purpose.’ #Happy28thBirthday mntshan’am”.
The part where he said: “I’m in no position to judge u but to love you and to always point you to Christ,” is what seems to have riled people up and they flooded his mentions – not just with their responses to his veiled homophobia but with the rainbow flag and homoerotic images.
Phelo is dating social media sensation turned TV presenter and actor, Moshe Ndiki.
Moshe and Phelo have been dating for weeks, if not months, and their relationship seems to be getting serious as their pair have met each others’ mothers and Phelo has even been taking Moshe to church with him.
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They shared their cute moment with their mothers via Moshe’s Instagram along with the caption “above all else lord, thank you for loving and supportive moms”.
Loyiso has dug in his heels and stands by his comment and has come out guns ablaze against all criticism.
He used Phelo’s comment on the contentious post to defend himself – Phelo thanked him for his “love and leadership”.
This is not the first time Bala has been accused of homophobia. In February 2018, he was slammed after he criticised the film Inxeba: The Wound, which focuses on Xhosa initiation rites and includes a gay relationship.
Bala did not confront the homosexuality depicted in the film directly, only saying that it “totally ridicules and disrespects the wishes and traditions of the Xhosa culture”.
Bala tweeted: “The release of Inxeba totally ridicules and disrespects the wishes and traditions of the Xhosa culture. If we, as a country, cannot protect our own cultural beliefs and differences, no one else will do it for us. As a Christian, I would not depict a picture of the Muslim prophet Mohammed. Not because I believe in the reasons behind it but because I respect the wishes of the Muslim community. Why, when it comes to our own traditions, can’t we give each other the same respect? #BanInxeba”.
(Compiled by Daniel Friedman. Background reporting, Kaunda Selisho)
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