AKA has had a long business relationship with alcohol company Cruz Vodka, as he has been brand ambassador, and even gotten two flavours made in his name. Now, it looks like the brand is trying to double cross him, and fans are not happy about it.
There was an uproar recently as the SA market received bottles of Cruz Vodka in the watermelon flavour that carried their regular, generic branding. Now, every fan of the flavour knows that it is one of AKA’s brand signatures, along with the banana flavour. Naturally, fans wanted to know why these did not bear his branding.
The company released a brief statement on their Twitter page, apologising for the error. They said that the bottles for the South African market are meant to have Super Mega’s branding, but the ones that were released, which didn’t have his name, were meant for the international market.
Dear Cruz Family- we have noted that generic branded Cruz watermelon bottles have been released into the South African market in error.These bottles were intended to carry the AKA brand name and was not intended for local market sale.
— cruzvodka (@Cruzvodka) February 26, 2022
Read also: AKA's Cruz Banana Flavour Compared To Hairspray
The statement, which was supposed to bring some calm and understanding amongst irate fans, did the exact opposite. They felt like the admission showed that the brand does not take AKA seriously. Otherwise, why would his brand only be used for local bottles but not for the international market? Is this an admission that they do not think his brand is big enough to be internationally influential? They demanded answers.
What you mean not intended for local sales???? Why can't @akaworldwide branded bottles be sold internationally??? pic.twitter.com/4VVjWr8khM
— Kgotso M. Mokhemise Snr. (@mokhemise) February 26, 2022
"Were intended to carry the AKA BRAND Name and was not intended for local market sale." Meaning their standard are not for South African market?🤷♀️🤷♂️🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/TXQNyaWhVR
— Idiot McDizzy😻😻😻 (@thabomthombeni3) February 26, 2022
The "AKA" brand name should be on the bottle both LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY! Get to work!
— slatt. (@just_jackson8) February 26, 2022
If Brand AKA is not there, I'm not buying. I would rather go vintage black.
— The Iron Duke (Unruly) 💜🖤💙 (@ScelonG) February 26, 2022
The fans do raise a valid point. After all, AKA is an international star, and it is not odd for them to expect his brand to carry across the borders. On the other hand, none of us know the arrangement that the rapper had with the brand for this endorsement, so we are not in any position to be making such demands. The brand has not given any further statements in response to these complaints.
This is not the first time that the brand is in trouble with social media because of their deal with Kiernan. Following the passing of his fiance, Anele “Nellie” Tembe, the rapper pulled out of his partnership with the brand. Many thought that it was because of all the negative publicity he was getting at the time, as social media insisted that he had a hand in her death. They figured that the brand no longer wanted to be associated with him.
But he came forth and clarified that he took time off to mourn Nellie and get his head straight. He returned some months later, and their brand relationship has been mostly good since.
Read more: AKA Resumes Business With Cruz Vodka