“You nervous?” Myrah asks me as we sit and wait for the vlogger to come.
“What makes you say that?” I say.
“You’re shaking your leg. You haven’t said a word in almost 10 minutes. And you keep checking your watch. All tell-tale signs of nervousness.”
I smile. “Yeah, a little nervous. This is my first interview. What if I say something I’m not supposed to?”
Myrah kissed my forehead. “You won’t. The guys and I went over the questions with you so many times. You should be able to recite the answers in your sleep.”
It was true. In these weeks, Myrah had become my girlfriend and helped me out with preparing for everything. I was so grateful to her. She was even here with me at the cafe where I was meeting the vlogger, to make me feel more comfortable.
“Here he comes,” Myrah says, indicating the vlogger. “I’ll just be at that table if you need me. And don’t worry. You’ll do great!”
She walks to another table just as the vlogger guy approaches me.
“Hi, I’m Jason Murray. You’re JT?” he seems uncertain.
“Yes,” I confirm, standing up and shaking his hand.
“I’m sorry, you just look … different.”
We both sit and he opens up his laptop and attaches a small camera to the top.
“Happier, is the word you’re looking for,” I start. “When I was filmed in that video, I was depressed as hell. Oh shit. I didn’t mean to use the word hell. Oh crap. Or the word shit. Can we start over?”
“Relax, JT,” Jason chuckles. “We haven’t started recording yet. But when we do, just be yourself. I know that this must be scary. And trust me, I’m honoured to be your first interviewer.”
We talk for a while and he takes notes and records. I try to be as natural as I can while being careful about what I say. I’d heard enough stories about how the media could twist words.
And this is how my life is for the next few weeks. Interviews and more videos of me singing that got millions of hits. I was loving it. I was a brand ambassador for a few top names. And the best part? Khanyi has finally stopped texting.
My first live radio interview is where things started to go south. The DJ had asked the questions on the list he had given me the night before, and I was glad. Then it was time to wrap up.
“So lastly, JT. Tell us. The girl from the song is Khanyi Mbali, right? Do you think there’s still a chance there?”
“Err, well, I – she …”
This wasn’t on the list of questions! And how did he know about Khanyi?
“Erm,” I clear my throat. “Let’s just say she’s where she belongs. In the past.”
“Ouch,” the DJ says. “And that’s all we have time for today folks. Tune in next time when we’ll be chatting to the girl behind the ‘Mama dancing’ videos. See ya!”
He presses a button and music starts playing to the audience.
“Hey, you didn’t tell me you were going to ask that last question,” I say.
“Oh? I thought I put it on the list. Anyway, you handled it well.”
I was soon realising this industry is filled with wolves in sheep clothing.
“You were great, JT,” Myrah gushes. We’re meeting for lunch after my interview.
“Thanks,” I smile.
“I’ll get us some milkshakes. Hold on.” Myrah went to the counter to order.
My phone buzzes. I check it quickly and see it’s a message from Khanyi.
Oh! I am ur past uh? Then y are u
msging me so much! I thought we were
getting sumwhere JT. How cud u say dat.
***
Tell us what you think: Do you think celebrities can ever talk freely, or must they think about and watch every word? Is it possible to ‘just be yourself’ as a celebrity?