Recently, actress Linda Sebezo made waves on social media after a TikTok user, @unathi.hlongwane, posted a video of her shopping for groceries at Shoprite.

The clip quickly went viral, catching the attention of many South Africans.

Public Reaction to Sebezo’s Shopping Choice

Many South Africans seemed perplexed by Sebezo’s decision to shop at the popular supermarket, which is typically frequented by the middle-class.

The reactions online ranged from surprise to outright criticism, with some people questioning why a celebrity like Sebezo would choose Shoprite over more upscale stores.

Linda Sebezo Defends Her Choice

In response to the online backlash, Sebezo took to social media to address the criticism.

In a video shared by @_BlackZA on X, she expressed her frustration with the scrutiny.

“Hi guys. It seems you’re running out of things to talk about.

You’ve spread rumors about me being pregnant, then you said I was dead, and now you’re upset because I shop at Shoprite,” Sebezo said.

“What’s wrong with shopping at Shoprite? I’m a simple person who enjoys interacting with people, and that’s why I do what I do—to entertain.”

Reactions from Social Media Users

Reactions to Sebezo’s shopping choice varied widely:

@MelikhayaL3006: “It’s crazy that people think they can dictate where someone should shop just because they shop there too. Mama didn’t need to explain herself.”
@EzamaCirha: “She makes a good point. It’s better to save up for important things and shop at affordable places rather than asking for help with hospital bills later.”
@DonaldMakhasane: “So now what kind of people are supposed to shop at Shoprite?”
@cozmino_: “Trying to explain yourself to strangers on social media is pointless. People already have their own agendas and you can’t change that.”
@SirMoosa_UTD: “There’s nothing wrong with shopping at Shoprite. I have loyalty cards for all kinds of stores and I’m not ashamed of it. Let’s stop judging people for their choices.”