After Sindile 'Zack' Dudumashe's explosive allegations against popular designer David Tlale, it is alleged that he was dropped by the Feather Awards which took place last weekend.
The successful designer became a trending topic after Zack made those damning allegations against him just recently. Tlale was slated to be a part of the annual Feather Awards, however according to Zimoja, he was dropped at the last minute.
The ceremony took place on November 10 at the Market Theater, Newtown and the theme was Time To Be Unf*cken Apologetic About Inclusion. They celebrate the queer community by recognizing the game changers in the industry.
However, Tlale being a game changer himself, he was allegedly excluded because of these sexual abuse allegations.
A source told the publication, “The Feather Awards takes such things seriously. They want the law to take its course or for the matter has been resolved legally.“
Tlale denied these allegations and is said to have consulted his legal team to deal with this.
“Some very serious and quite damning allegations levelled against me and my professional brand have surfaced over the weekend. These allegations are categorically false and only seek to cause me serious harm and also seek to undermine the lived experiences of those who are real victims of sexual assault of any nature,” wrote Tlale on Instagram.
“While I consult with my internal team of experts on this matter, this shall be the first and only comment on this issue until I am advised otherwise,” he continued.
Sindile alleged that he was drugged and raped by the designer when he was only 20 years old while working under his Mentorship. “I was charmed and inspired by him. A role model to me at the time, and to cut the long story short, he drugged and sexually abused me. He then exploited me for my skills during the pandemic,” Zack claimed on his Instagram.
“He would ask I write him pressers, sponsorship proposals and other strategies/copy, promise to pay me — often in clothing — but wouldn’t actually. And when I’d remind him, he’d get defensive and gaslight me,” he continued.
"He later offered me a job as his PR & Comms Manager at my most vulnerable, I think two weeks out of rehab, unemployed – he played around my desperation for purpose, tricked me down 66% (I calculated) less than what both he and I knew I was worth at the time, gaslit me and lied to make me believe he had bigger plans for me in his brand, continued to use me, commented on my body and weight gains in the office during my most insecure days when I was literally gaining weight daily. A side effect from my depression medication and then he tried so hard to crush my self esteem and confidence,” Zack added.
He vowed to never work in the fashion industry ever again after this. He also refused to speak to the media and said he would only contact Musa Khawula.
Image credit: Instagram