Nara Smith is accused of copying 23-year-old singer Tyla after posting a video of herself cooking pap and chutney, a beloved traditional South African dish.
Born in Bloemfontein to a South African mother and a German father, Smith took to her TikTok and posted a heart-warming video, sharing how she missed her mom and decided to make a meal that reminds her of home.
“Growing up, my mom would make one South African dish over and over again. It would be pap with tomato chutney and some kind of dark leafy vegetable, whatever she could find while living in Germany. Lately, I've been missing my mom a lot and craving her cooking,” she said.
She proceeded to chop up some Swiss Chard with onion and garlic since she did not have a “dark leafy vegetable”, and for her tomato chutney, she grated some tomatoes and added her own flair with some diced jalapenos.
@naraazizasmith haven’t made this since I moved out🥹 #easyrecipe #homecooking #fypシ #momtok #southafricanfood ♬ Autumn Leaves - Timothy Cole
However, netizens are now accusing Smith of copying Tyla, the Grammy-award-winning artist who made the same dish for her Vogue feature, which went viral on the internet. Many are saying that Smith is trying to recreate Tyla’s viral moment and gain attention for herself.
@tanyajunghans commented: “Nara saw Tyla loving pap and making it for the world to see and said, ‘Lucky! Hold my drink. My monitoring eye just saw something I will take and make my own …’”
Nara saw Tyla loving pap and making it for the world to see and said, “Lucky! Hold my drink. My monitoring eye just saw something I will take and make my own…”
— Tanya Junghans (@tanyajunghans) March 18, 2025
Another user @TiroOhP pointed out that Smith wore braids in the video, a hairstyle she had never worn before. “I am not an avid Nara Smith watcher but I’ve never seen her wear cornrows until she made pap,” he commented.
I am not an avid Nara Smith watcher but I’ve never seen her wear cornrows until she made pap https://t.co/BzFs6zn8nc
— DeShawn Mustard (@TiroOhP) March 18, 2025
Just weeks ago, Tyla won hearts when she showcased her cooking skills for Vogue’s “Now Serving” series, where she whipped up her favourite South African dish, pap and boerewors with chutney.
Tyla making Pap for British Vogue. pic.twitter.com/icnk6y0PZS
@im_vewokie asked: “Firstly, isn't this an exact copy of what Tyla did? 🤔 Secondly, if your pap doesn't stick to the pot at the bottom then it can't be lekker lekker. Thirdly, where is the meat?”
Firstly, isnt this an exact copy of what Tyla did? 🤔
— V 🇿🇦 (@im_vewokie) March 19, 2025
Secondly, if your pap doesn't stick to the pot at the bottom then it can't be lekker lekker.
Thirdly, where the meat? https://t.co/yodAEDisWZ
Tyla's video impressed fans and critics alike, showcasing her culinary skills and proudly representing South African culture. Smith's video, however, has been met with scepticism, with many netizens accusing her of trying to recreate the viral moment.
While Smith intended to share a personal moment with her fans, the timing of her video has raised eyebrows. Did she intentionally try to copy Tyla, or was it simply a coincidence?
Known for building her brand on aesthetically pleasing content by making food items from scratch and a knack for stirring the pot, this is not the first time Smith has faced accusations of copying.
Previously, she was accused of replicating content from a popular South African food creator Onezwa Mbola.
The persistent accusations came after Mbola used her Boba Tea video as an example to show that Smith has been posting similar content on her TikTok account a little while after Mbola does on her own page.
She was also accused of “stealing’” an idea for a Marc Jacobs ad from another creator, who had previously used the idea on her page.