American hip-hop mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs unknowingly drove an even bigger wedge between local rappers Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Cassper Nyovest (real name Refiloe Phoolo) when he posted a few promotional tweets for Ciroc’s new watermelon flavour.
While the beef between the two seems to have been going on since time immemorial, firewater was brought into the mix in early 2018 when AKA announced his deal with Cruz vodka – nearly six months after Cassper Nyovest was unveiled as the new local face for Ciroc vodka.
Naturally, Nyovest accused AKA of copying him, but it should be noted that their deals are slightly different.
AKA set his deal up in such a way that he would earn a portion of the profits for every bottle sold, in addition to serving as a face for Cruz and filming TV commercials that air in heavy rotation.
Nyovest, on the other hand, serves as an ambassador for Ciroc, hosts and attends events affiliated to the brand and occasionally shouts them out in a song.
He has no say in the creative direction the brand takes.Which is probably why he was so comfortable in taking a jab at AKA in the form of his phrase and hashtag, #HareBatleMagapuMo (we do not want watermelons here).
Back in 2007, Diddy signed a 50/50 multi-year deal to market the Ciroc vodka brand – a deal that is rumoured to have made him more than $100 m (R1 399 735 000,00).
According to Black Entrepreneur Profile, under the terms of the deal, Sean Combs and Sean Combs Enterprises will take the lead on all brand management decisions for Ciroc, while sharing in the future profits of the growth of the brand.
As someone with the power to take the lead on all brand management decisions, Diddy decided that watermelon is what the people want and that it is what they will get, which then made things awkward for Nyovest and his #HareBatleMagapuMo.
Nyovest is not happy about this at all and has made no point to hide it.
Nyovest then shared a press release which he claimed was from Diageo South Africa. In the press release, the beverage company that is responsible for all things Ciroc in South Africa is allegedly claiming that they have no intentions of bringing the Summer Watermelon flavour to South Africa.
When called for comment, publicists speaking on behalf of the brand confirmed that this is in fact true.
It would have been awkward if they had plans of bringing the flavour here as Nyovest’s supporters are so adamant that they would stand by him that they all tweeted about how they would not support the flavour.
#ad 🍉 NEW FLAVOR ALERT! 🍉 The official drink of the summer is here! Introducing to you @Ciroc Summer Watermelon. The summer is ours. Order now at https://t.co/388r9snn0Z #CirocTheSummer pic.twitter.com/ENrVX72IkO
— Diddy (@Diddy) April 9, 2019
Here's the official statement from Ciroc , since #EverybodyLovesCiroc . verdict ? #HareBatleMagapuMo . 👂🏿 ❓❓ pic.twitter.com/iXzUtan5bJ
— R.M Phoolo (@casspernyovest) April 10, 2019
#EverybodyLovesWatermelon 😍 https://t.co/vc1QWkheeR
— AKA (@akaworldwide) April 9, 2019
I can’t wait till Cassper gets the brief to start pushing 🍉 Ciroc. 😂😂😂
— Umculi oqavile (@Thobeofheart) April 9, 2019
Why you gotta do your boy @casspernyovest like this 😂 Not Cool!! Let me Mind my business and eat Watermelon 🍉 I meant drink water 💦😂 https://t.co/FCBizyDxQa
— TRESOR RIZIKI (@tresorofficial) April 9, 2019