- Former Big Brother Mzansi reality TV participant Ashley Ogle declined to accept her South African Social Media Award (SASMA)
- The influencer was nominated for three awards and won two, yet chose to accept neither
- Mzansi reacted with surprise and criticism, with many referencing her ex-partner, Sweet Guluva
Many were astonished when Ashley Ogle, a former contestant on Big Brother Mzansi, chose not to accept her awards at the South African Social Media Awards (SASMA).
The ceremony occurred on Saturday, November 22, in Randburg. Ogle’s explanation for refusing the trophies left social media users perplexed, prompting widespread criticism of her decision.
Reason Behind Ashley’s Decision
The former housemate was nominated for three awards at the SASMAs, and she secured wins for Popular Hashtag of the Year and Emerging Social Media Personality of the Year.
In a TikTok video by @kgalalelo.tlhoael, Ashley left her award on the stage, indicating she would leave it for anyone else who may want it. Ashley Ogle expressed gratitude to God and her supporters, acknowledging that they were responsible for making the award attainable.
“I did say that if I do not get three out of three this award belonged to anyone. So I’m about to leave it here. Thank you so much,” she said as she placed the award on the podium.
While accepting her second award, Ashley explained her rationale for not claiming the first one. According to Daily Sun, she felt unable to accept an award that was funded by her fans’ votes. She contrasted this with her international accolades, such as the Brand Impact Award at the 2025 Chery Global Summit in China, which were based purely on statistics without requiring payment for votes.
“I feel like they (Ash Angels) deserve more, they deserve better and I really and truly appreciate you guys…I have won awards where people didn’t have to pay money for them. I’ve won global awards where people just voted for me out of statistics, and I’m very thankful for that,” she was quoted saying. “This one, unfortunately, we had to raise a lot,” she mentioned.
Ashley mentioned that it was appropriate not to accept the awards, but she conveyed appreciation for her supporters. At the conclusion of the event, her fans reportedly gifted her a cash prize of R100K.
Responses on social media revealed confusion over Ashley’s choice. Critics voiced their opinions, with one user stating, “They said we are healous when we told you guys about this girl.”
Another user noted, “This is not the Ashley Ogle I know.” Meanwhile, Ssmoya commented, “Sweet Guluva was right about her. He tried to warn us.”
Watch the clip of her accepting the first award:
