Celebrities
Nomsa Buthelezi reveals struggles and discrimination as a lesbian in South African TV industry
Nomsa Buthelezi gave fans a raw and emotional glimpse into the challenges she has faced as a lesbian trying to succeed in the local entertainment scene.
In a video that quickly went viral, the former Our Perfect Wedding host reflected on the harsh realities of an industry that, she says, often judged her for her sexuality rather than her talent.
Fighting back tears, Buthelezi revealed that both her weight and her sexuality made her an easy target for critics.
She recalled giving her all during auditions, determined that her skill would speak for itself.
“The show went up in numbers because of the 101% I brought. But when South Africa started applauding me because of my talent, they got upset and they went behind my back and lied about me,” she said.
She described a pattern of jealousy and betrayal, where colleagues pretended to be friends only to steal her ideas and then abandon her.
“People hate me for my sexuality. It’s very tough because you lose jobs and gigs. They turned their backs on me and they forgot the talent and the actress that I am,” she added.
Despite the setbacks, Buthelezi also acknowledged the allies who recognized her abilities and supported her journey.
“I never got justice, but I continued and worked. There were people God brought to my life for me to work with them because they believed in the actress and not what she looked like or who she is,” she said, visibly emotional.
Watch the video below:
Actress Nomsa Buthelezi breaks down in tears, saying being a lesbian in South Africa is hard and has cost her many acting gigs. pic.twitter.com/lVmbDF0lMk
— Lavish Living (@busiwe_bubu) March 26, 2026
