AKA's father releases late rapper's WhatsApp messages to defend his name
Tony Forbes has released WhatsApp conversations involving his late son, AKA, in an effort to defend the rapper’s name.
Tony Forbes, the father of late rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes, says he is determined to defend his son’s legacy following years of allegations linking him to the death of his former fiancée, Anele Tembe.
Taking to Instagram this week, Forbes shared a series of WhatsApp conversations that he said were exchanged between Kiernan, Anele and the Tembe family's lawyer.
In a lengthy statement, Tony said he decided to make the messages public because, while he could no longer protect his son, he could still fight for his reputation.
"On Sunday night, I reluctantly made the decision to release various WhatsApp texts exchanged between Kiernan Forbes, Anele Tembe and the Tembe family lawyer. I did it as his father, not Lynn Forbes, not Tiffany Forbes. I could not save him, but I can fight for his name and memory," the Instagram post reads.
Tony said he remained silent for years despite media reports, public commentary and allegations surrounding his son’s role in Tembe’s death because he believed the legal process should take its course.
He said the messages were exchanged during and after an incident at the Hilton Hotel in Durban in December 2020.
"Over the years, I've generally not responded to countless media stories, political speeches and allegations that Kiernan murdered Anele. I believed that the formal inquest was the right place to respond. However, after continued character assassinations, I believe the time was right to put this information into the public domain to bring balance, facts and not speculation."
Forbes also questioned why the WhatsApp messages, which he says remained on his son's cellphone, were never included in the case docket.
Tony Forbes speaks: “On Sunday night I reluctantly made the decision to release various WhatsApp texts… I did it as his father.” The exchanges during/after the Hilton incident raise serious contradictions with sworn affidavits. Read the texts and decide. RIP Kiernan & Anele. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ELOfJqyscu
— THE AUDIO LAB (@TheAudioLabSA) July 14, 2026
Among the messages he shared are exchanges in which Tembe allegedly expressed suicidal thoughts and threatened to jump, as well as conversations involving the Tembe family's lawyer. The released messages also reference Tembe’s mental health and medication.
Neither the authenticity of the messages nor the conclusions Tony Forbes draws from them have been tested in court.
AKA and Anele were one of South Africa's most high-profile celebrity couples. Tembe died after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town in April 2021, where she and AKA were staying.
In February 2023, AKA was shot dead in Florida Road, Durban.
The inquest into Anele’s death is expected to continue in September.
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