Lasizwe announces new celeb show 'Awkward Dates'

22 June 2023 - 08:00
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Lasizwe is on the comeback trail.
Lasizwe is on the comeback trail.
Image: Instagram/Lasizwe

In an emotional video a couple of months ago, Lasizwe Dambuza said he was quitting YouTube. That is now out the window as he plans a comeback with a new show, Awkward Dates. 

The first episode will air on his channel in July, serving as a birthday present for him, he told TshisaLIVE. 

Lasizwe said he came up with the concept for the 10-episode show, writing the scripts and questions, with all of this possible because he had a lot of time on his hands.

“The show was inspired by this UK YouTuber who is also a content creator. Her name is Amelia Dimoldenberg. She has a show called Chicken Shop Date and I was a huge fan of it and how she executed it.

“South African celebrities have never been seen as human ... People see us as these stars and behind the stars it's emotions and feelings and all of that stuff.”

Watch the trailer below:

In a clip on Instagram, the celebs include Mihlali, Toss and Mmusi Maimane, with Lasizwe saying his guest selection criteria was informal. 

“It stems from how people just perceive people. For instance, Mmusi Maimane, who's always known as a serious guy, always dealing with serious topics, and he wants to save the country and all of that stuff. People have never really seen him in a very light and fun way. My picking of celebrities was based on people who have always been seen as hard-core.”

After his YouTube hiatus, the content creator said he is prioritising his mental wellbeing

“I have been taking time off to focus on my mental health, my sabbatical, and just trying to align myself. That's the most important thing because the nature of our industry requires us to really give so much of ourselves that we lose ourselves. So really, just trying to recollect myself and be one with myself.”

On whether being in showbiz helped his guests relax and trust him, he said: “I've just realised that people need to gain your trust for them to open up, so being in the industry has kind of helped, and I think just being human. Yes, we are all colleagues in the same industry, but there is a human aspect to it, there is a pathway you need to work on."



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