Did Grace Mondlana really ask fans to audition for her party? The truth behind the backlash

South African content creator Grace Mondlana is facing public backlash for allegedly making people audition for her year-end party, which she announced in September.

Online users are claiming that what she is doing is completely wrong because she could have simply sent out invites to people she chose herself.

TikTok content creators are sharing their thoughts on why this whole thing is cringe and embarrassing.

@igeal_tanya shared a video with the caption: “Maybe I’m strict, but auditioning for invites to a party is crazy business. Isdima??? (dignity???)

@igeal_tanya Yini inkinga guys? #gracemondlana #partyinvites #mzansitiktok #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp ♬ original sound – Reaction Vids Storage

While @sinelithalouw wrote: “Now why would I post a video of myself begging for an invitation to a party?”

@sinelithalouw Yeyy people are auditioning for this invitation to Grace Mondlana’s party, my pride would never allow me to#fyp #mzantsitiktok🇿🇦 #xybca #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp @Grace Mondlana 🎀 ♬ suono originale – 𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮

But the real question is, did she actually tell people to create videos and post them, sharing why they should be invited to the party? Well, the answer is no.

Shortly after sharing the idea with her followers, she first proposed the idea of having ticket sales to her party, but then quickly changed it to her choosing 150 people who engage most with her content.

She shared via her Instagram channel “Grace & Friendssss”: “Nah, guys, seriously, this is my way of giving back…

“I just need to choose the top 150 people who engage with my content, spoken positively about me or whose life I’ve had an impact on, then the other 100 will be my colleagues, family and friends.”

So, where does the whole narrative of people auditioning for the party come from? 

Some of her fans began a trend whereby they started making videos, sharing why they think they should be invited. So this audition thing that is going on, simply comes from her followers.

It quickly shifted from just being a joke to people taking it seriously and actually tagging her, asking to be invited.

Some users even included their family members and friends in the videos to ask Mondlana for an invite. Take a look:

@reaforspain PLEASE tag @Grace Mondlana 🎀 I BEGGGG (inspired by @Sedi🎀 ) #reaforspain #viral #gracemondlanaparty #gracemondlanapartyinvitation #getreaonthelist ♬ original sound – 💋Rea

@ayandah041 🧎🏽‍♀️❤️@Grace Mondlana 🎀 #gracemondlana #gracemondlanaparty #southafrica ♬ original sound – Ayandazah

In addition, this was simply a fun trend and not that serious or cringe like some say because she did not ask people to audition and create the videos.