Unstoppable Spirit: Uncle Waffles Champions Body Positivity

South African DJ and social media personality Uncle Waffles frequently finds herself in the spotlight, facing both praise and criticism.

In a recent TikTok video, she spoke out against the negative scrutiny regarding her body. Uncle Waffles, renowned for her energetic performances and popular dance routines, has emerged as a notable figure in the South African entertainment scene, attracting an audience worldwide.

Starting the video with gratitude, she thanked those who share clips of her performances. “A lot of people encounter me through these videos,” she noted, recognizing the influence of her fans in promoting her brand. She swiftly transitioned to confronting the unkind remarks directed at her, particularly about her weight. A recent back-and-forth in the comments section of a supportive video was particularly troubling as it focused heavily on her looks.

“As someone who has experienced a lot of constant criticism about my appearance,” Uncle Waffles stated, “the Olympics to tear down my ego are not going to work because I’m not living to please people but to be comfortable with myself.” She pointed out that much of the backlash stemmed from a viral Facebook post that wrongly identified her as transgender, leading to unfounded rumors about her allegedly transitioning due to envy of a fellow artist, Uncle Vinny.

“The reason I bring that up,” she continued, “is because a lot of queer people around me started receiving hate. I couldn’t let that fester or create an environment where people feel they can talk about others in my circle, especially since I have a diverse and supportive group around me.”

Uncle Waffles also spoke candidly about the difficulties of maintaining her health while on the move. “I have to make sure to keep up with eating healthy, which is not always possible,” she revealed, shedding light on the pressures resulting from her hectic lifestyle.

The conversation took a more serious turn as she detailed some of the extreme demands from her critics, with some expecting her to expose private areas to “prove” her gender. She firmly stated that such intrusive comments will not dictate her self-identity.

In a straightforward manner, Uncle Waffles utilized her platform not just to defend her choices but to raise awareness about body-shaming and the need to support individuals in her community. Her core message is impactful: criticism often says more about the person delivering it than the individual being targeted, and true self-worth is derived from within rather than from external validation.