Actress and choreographer Lorcia Cooper-Khumalo has opened up about why she felt compelled to confront her long-time friend Somizi Mhlongo about the abuse allegations he faced from his estranged husband Mohale Motaung.
When the first episode of Living the Dream With Somizi (LTDWS) launched its fifth season on May 4 it left SA with a lot to talk about after Somizi shared his thoughts candidly about his failed marriage to Mohale and details about their sex life.
But it was his conversations with choreographer and actress Lorcia that shook things up on Twitter after she blatantly asked Somizi if he hit Mohale.
“So, did you hit him?” Lorcia asked.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE she said it was only natural for her to ask her friend the hard-hitting question.
“I get Somizi. I met Somizi about the time when I met Lebo Mathosa. It’s been many years. Somizi and I don’t have a public display relationship. Whatever friendship I have, my marriage, my children, all of that ... belongs to me.”
In August 2021, Sunday World reported that Mohale allegedly made abuse claims in an interview with the previous producers of the reality show Living the Dream with Somizi.
Lorcia said she couldn't turn a blind eye.
“I think ultimately it’s one thing for information to come out and to turn a blind eye and look the other way, that says something about you. When I was called and asked if I would be on the show, I asked, well in what capacity? And they were like, we just want you to have an intimate conversation and I was like, yeah, but I want to ask about this and this and this.”
Mohale and Somizi announced their divorce in August 2021 after Sunday World leaked audio clips of Mohale’s “confessions”.
“Though I already knew [about the alleged abuse], I think it’s an important thing to talk about it, as hard as it may be. If people about us have done wrong, as hard as it may be, we have to face it and I feel like often we look away because we don’t want to see people in a certain light. So for me it’s about stepping up and holding myself accountable. I think accountability is everything in life. Who am I if I just look the other way. I think it was the opportunity to hold my friend accountable.”
“Definitely people that I have about me, my friends, those I love, they have different quirks, but the one thing that they do have in common is they are real about themselves and about who they are. They are people who are willing to be an even better version of themselves.
“They are people who value things that inspire me. They say you should surround yourself with people who inspire, who make you think, who propel you to elevate yourself, and we talk about elevation sometimes in the material sense and I’m not just talking about that. I’m talking about elevation within yourself first. Yes, financial elevation is important, but the elevation of your mind and thoughts and so, my friends have that in common, the people I love have that in common.”
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