Nota’s US visa revoked
The South African music executive Nota Baloyi has landed in controversy once again, as recent reports indicate that his visa to the United States has been rescinded following his comments on American political figure Charlie Kirk.
This situation ignited considerable discussion on South African social media. The information was verified by Sherwin Bryce-Pease, a correspondent for SABC News, who posted an update on X (previously Twitter) on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
“I have identified the Twitter handle referred to in the State Department’s post. And a screenshot of the flagged post, @lavidaNOTA,” Bryce-Pease noted.
Reports suggest that Nota lost his visa after making remarks related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who recently gained attention online due to old clips discussing South Africa.
The producer’s comments met with significant backlash, prompting action from U.S. officials. This occurred shortly after comedian Trevor Noah also received criticism for a joke about Kirk.
In response to the news, many South Africans expressed their varied opinions on social media. One user, @Nqobelo, remarked, “Freedom of speech is really only freedom of speech if the speech aligns with the narrative.” Another commenter, @CRangataJ, added, “Lol, oh? He used to love mocking us from the USA as well. Maybe he can try the UK?”
Meanwhile, others supported Nota, criticizing what they perceived as double standards from the U.S. government. “This guy should go to court and sue the government for victimisation, censorship, and harassment. The USA’s double standards can get sickening,” one user wrote.
Have identified the twitter handle referred to in the State Dept’s post. And screenshot of the flagged post 👇🏽 @lavidaNOTA #sabcnews https://t.co/dMXIKA80qE pic.twitter.com/d8OxxJ4LvX
— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) October 14, 2025
