Award-winning fashion extraordinaire David Tlale is celebrating another year around the sun
Also Read: "These Allegations Are Categorically False"- David Tlale Denies Rape Allegations Levelled Against Him
Also Read: "These Allegations Are Categorically False"- David Tlale Denies Rape Allegations Levelled Against Him
On Sunday 29 January, the designer celebrated his 48th birthday on Instagram, reflecting on this milestone birthday with an emotional post.
Tlale had a tumultuous 2022 after he was accused of rape by Sindile Zack Dudumashe. Reflecting on the 48 years of his life he said the journey has been worthwhile through the positive and bad.
"The Journey Continues with God on my side I can do All things. Up to this far, it’s been great through the Good, the bad, and the ugly it’s been amazing. I wear my scars that brighten my crown with pride to have sustained until this far! Thank you, God for one more year. Happy birthday Dr. David TLALE! Let the beat 🥁🥁🎸🎼🎼🎷🪕🪘🎬 go on," he wrote.
In 2022, David made headlines for the wrong reasons after he was accused of rape by former fashion aspirant Sindile Zack Dudumashe. Sindile said he worked with Tlale at African Fashion International (AFI) three years ago.
According to Zack, Tlale allegedly drugged and sexually abused, him under the guise of being a mentor to him. “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 ileveleddays 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.
David denied the sexual abuse allegations and exploitation and said they were false and malicious.
"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.
“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.
Image Cred: ANMG
Image Cred: ANMG