Nigerian-American rapper Chika on Sunday announced that she is retiring from music because of the “mental toll” the music industry is taking on her.
The 24-year-old Grammy-nominated rapper also revealed that she struggles with suicidal thoughts.
Chika’s retirement announcement was however met with a slew of hateful messages from online bullies who she said were rejoicing in the decline of her mental health.
“It’s really cool watching the world not give a f*ck and paint you as a villain,” Chika said in a message shared on her Twitter page. “Today, i shared that I was thinking of retiring because the mental toll being in the industry has taken on me is not something you bounce back from easily. I’ve told my team, i’ve told my therapist, i’ve told friends and acquaintances. today i told twitter. what followed was a hoard of psychotic fans rejoicing in the decline of my mental health, harassing me as if I spoke to them first.”
Chika added: “When you have depression, the negative self-talk you have towards yourself is deafening. Now imagine a slew of weirdos dogpiling on top of thoughts you already have to fight off yourself. it’s not f*cking cool, it’s not ‘trolling’ or ‘stan culture,’ you’re pushing people to a point of no return. and no, i don’t feel bad for wishing death on people who sh*t like that cuz you deserve the same fate as the people you effect. with that said, I’m out. if it doesn’t work, i’ll try again. idc. have fun. i never liked it here anyway.”
Fellow rapper Cardi B responded to Chika’s tweets. She advised her to not allow online bullies to dictate her life and future.
“Take it as this, Is the devil trying you or God testing your faith. I have won and accomplished so much and yet people try to strip everything I work hard for yet I have to think to myself do I quit & let people laugh for me being weak or get them mad by winning?” Cardi B said in a series of quoted tweets.
