Somizi Accused Of Stealing Dinner At Somizi's Concept!

Intellectual property theft seems to be rife in the industry.

By  | Sep 16, 2020, 09:01 AM  | Somizi Mhlongo  | Top of the

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Larger-than-life Television star Somizi Mhlongo, has landed himself in hot water for allegedly stealing the concept of his hit cooking show Dinner At Somizi's. The show which airs on 1 Magic has become Mzansi's favorite as it features the who's who of showbiz.

Read More: Dinner At Somizi's : Jub Jub Is The Next Guest

The show started airing in July and it has seen a number of SA celebs being invited to appear on it, including the likes of Pearl Thusi, DJ Zinhle, Jub Jub, Lerato Kganyago, Rami Chuene, Rebecca Malope and Zahara.

Invited guest celebs indulge in some scrumptious meal prepared by the TV star, and they later sit down with Somizi to speak about topics they have never opened up about.

Since the show debuted on the channel at has won the hearts of many but now it has left many a tad disappointed that the concept was apparently stolen, as the allegations have come out.

According to s screenshot of the show's proposal shared by a Twitter user @Eusebius, the brain behind the show Hastings Moeng, sent an email to Somizi and Themba on July 28 2014, proposing a cooking show Dinner Kwa Somizi.

"On 28 July 2014, Hastings Moeng proposed DinnerAtSomizis to Somizi & Themba. The description of the show is materially similar to the one now flighted (to the shock of Mr Moeng). See the 2014 email below and decide for yourself," wrote the Twitter user.


It is also alleged that on 2 September 2016 Hastings Moeng sent a treatment synopsis of the show to the producer of Somizi's current show Legend Manqele and they apparently used his concept to produce the show.

"On 2 September 2016 Hastings Moeng wrote to Legend (the current producer) with a synposis for #DinnerAtSomizis . You can see the treatment synopsis below. And judge for yourself. Why is IP theft so rife in entertainment? Multichoice is being coy despite being shown this."

Somizi has not responded on social to the allegations and he has since been Trending on Twitter, with many raising eyebrows on these allegations. This is not the first Television show alleged to have been stolen.

Moja Loves You Promised To Marry Me's concept is also allegedly stolen. This follows after Cedric Manala accused the channel of making his idea theirs following his pitch.

“They said they wanted me there when they recorded and aired the show, which I also questioned,” he said. “This was never about compensation. It’s about recognition because it was going to put me on the map and open doors for me.” 

Moja Love's Moyo said that the channel had been working on the show's concept since last year as a spin-off of Uyajola 9/9. 

“The channel has been working on the show format for You Promised to Marry Me since last year as a spin-off of Uyajola 9/9. The concept of the show was created and formalised internally by the channel’s executive producers.” 

The show continues to air on the channel and many have been in awe of it.

Image Credit: News365
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