Read more: Halala! Thembi Seete And JR Join Somizi As Idols Season 18 Judges
Idols SA had an impressive viewership but that slumped when Somizi Mhlongo got suspended following abuse allegations. Viewers vowed to never watch the singing competition ever again. However, with his return to season 18 with new faces Thembi Seete and JR Bogopa, the numbers reportedly remain low.
Phil Mphela announced that when the new season debuted in July 17th, they failed to attract the viewers they lost as numbers remained at a low 744K viewership.
Reacting to these figures, Phil said it has been a trend for local content to not have high viewership.
TV: IdolsSA ratings slump
— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 17, 2022
Season 18 debut month has been a lukewarm affair.
The intro of new judges and the return of Somizi seems to have not lured disinterested viewers back.
New season peaked at 744K viewers during July — far cry from seasons past debut.#KgopoloReports pic.twitter.com/pFR8pecabS
"To be fair, ratings have dropped for most shows across the tv landscape, especially titles that have been around for a while. That said, the failure of IdolsSA to recover its over a million viewers per episode streak is significant. IdolsSA should be concerned."
During the press conference, Somizi said he was innocent until proven guilty, "Honestly as you may have all noticed, I haven't spoken about anything. My private life is my private life and my work life is my work life. I feel like I can't say anything at the moment and I don't was to say anything. All I can say is that it was one of the toughest times in my career but we move on, like they say you are innocent until proven guilty," he said.
Viewers reacted to this by saying they cannot stand watching Somizi on their TV screens. Echoing Ntsiki's sentiments about not wanting Somizi to continue getting gigs.
"Feminists and the public have been question @IdolsSA and @MultiChoiceGRP for hiring a sex offender. Hence the outcry when @TrueLoveMag had him on the cover. ALL THESE LEADERS KNOW HE IS A SEX OFFENDER. THEY IGNORED IT," she said after the Thembi Seete saga.
I cannot stand watching that abusive convicted sex offender Somizi..
— Former Kleva Black🇿🇦 🇿🇦 (@SneKhumaloSA) August 17, 2022
Ugh everytime he comes on my TV, I change the channel 😒 https://t.co/RREkWxFejH
It’s a singing competition and not a single person on that judging Panel is a singer or makes their money from singing. So the whole thing is a gimmick. Also the allegations against Somizi can’t be overlooked just like that. https://t.co/TMOebMwVJP
— Leharé (@_lehare) August 17, 2022
It's crazy how they thought Somizi's absence was the reason for the bad ratings. The show has lost its value cause we don't even see the winners succuess after the competition.
— Grace Jones (@GraceJo97040684) August 17, 2022
Two reasons for me:
— Mrs Noma 🔆 (@MrsNoma) August 17, 2022
1. I don’t want to watch Somizi anymore… a lot has happened with him… Personally I can’t seem to look past it all, he is a distraction for me;
2. I miss Randall Abrahams 💛💛💛
Understandably so!!! I mean we can't be paying our DSTV to watch Somizi on every channel. The viewers must be respected and be given the variety they deserve. It gets even worse when Idols invites back the same GBV offender like nothing happened.
— Monsieur Gregg 🇿🇦 🇷🇺 (@g_mapaya) August 17, 2022