The conversation around AKA’s legacy and how those closest to him are navigating life after his death has taken a new turn, with his mother, Lynn Forbes, weighing in on a comment made by his former girlfriend and rapper Nadia Nakai.
Nakai previously appeared on L-Tido’s podcast, where she addressed public criticism about her personal life following the death of AKA, whose real name was Kiernan Forbes.
Speaking during the interview, Nakai argued against the expectation that she should remain in a state of grieving forever. L-Tido questioned what Nakai gained from being seen with someone else in public.
“I gained my freedom. Under this cloud and this stigma that I’m forever frozen in time as someone’s widow, when I wasn’t married to him,” she said.
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life by myself. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life loving a ghost. And I love him. And I’ll always love him. He’ll always have a special space in my heart, but I’m ready to move on,” Nakai explained.
The comment led to an online debate as some fans took issue with her wording, while others defended her right to move forward in her own time.
Forbes has shared her perspective after being asked about the remark on the same podcast. She made it clear that she does not take any offence because her relationship with the rapper shaped how she received it.
“Nadia and I had a good laugh, that’s all I can tell you,” she said. She went on to explain that understanding Nakai on a personal level made all the difference.
“When you know someone, you know. I mean, I know Nads, and we love each other, and we see each other, and I know where she is in her head and what her mindset is.”
Forbes acknowledged that not everyone would see it the same way, especially those who do not have that personal connection.
“I can understand why people kind of had a problem with her saying … a ghost. But me, I know Nadia, so I’m just like, okay, don’t worry about it. It’s fine. They don’t understand you.”
