Toya Delazy pays tribute to Orlando shooting victims

In the words of a popular Toya DeLazy song, why hate?

By  | Jun 22, 2020, 01:46 PM  | Toya Delazy  | Drama

Toya Delazy

Toya DeLazy joined scores of people in London this week to honour those killed in a mass shooting in America, that targeted the LGBT community.

Toya, like millions around the world, has been left heartbroken by the attack on a gay club in Orlando, which left 49 people dead.

The shooter, Omar Mateen, was shot dead by police. 

Toya, who is proudly gay, attended a vigil on Old Compton Street on Monday in honour of the victims. 

"Paying my respects to #orlando at the #vigil in crompton street .. it's truly heart wrenching what happened, (kumuncu) , but because we are working towards better tomorrow LOVE WILL WIN .. Aluta continua!" she said on Instagram.

Shortly after news of the attack broke, Toya took to Facebook to talk about the inspiration for her 2014 song, Why Hate?, which she wrote after her friend, renowned lesbian photographer Zanele Muholi, called her to voice her pain about the killings of born free lesbians in South Africa.

"She asked me to write a song because 'people listen to me'. I wrote the song and we created this video together with the amazing Lesedi Rudolph and Alisson Chaigneau. I brought in all my friends and people I admire, who are influential, to send out a very important message. People were dying, at the time. Duduzile zozo (26) had been correctively raped in the most horrific manner and the death toll was rising, then it was xenophobia... Sadly after this video, one of my fans Dusky (who became my good friend) had her girlfriend murdered because of her sexuality," she said in a lengthy post.

READ: Toya Delazy asks: Why Hate?

Toya added that Why Hate? was a serious song that did not get much support from her label at the time.

"My label at the time never pushed for it, they didn't find it important enough, it was left out of the singles and I took my own money to make the video even though I was a major signed artist. I understand pop bottles brings money, but changing and influencing mentalities brings change to the world, which is even better. So once again, dedicated to the ‪#‎OrlandoShooting victims and families and anyone else who has fallen victim to the bigotry of society world wide , let's ask them WHY HATE?" 

Toya now has her own record label.

READ: Toya Delazy responds to hater with love

A S I H L O N I P H A N E P U T R E S P E K O N I T

A video posted by Toya Delazy (@toyadelazy) on

A photo posted by Toya Delazy (@toyadelazy) on