South African rapper Reason, popularly known as Sizwe Alkaline, has taken a strong stance in defense of his girlfriend, Gigi Lamayne, after two podcasters made disrespectful comments about their relationship.
Podcasters Thakgi and Sfiso Ndlovu recently questioned Reason’s decision to date the Ice Cream hitmaker following his split from Metro FM host Luthando “LootLove” Shosha in May 2020. During their discussion, Sfiso laughed while asking, “Do you think he downgraded? From LootLove to Gigi Lamayne?”
Thakgi agreed, adding, “In terms of standard, I feel like it’s dropped a bit.”
Reason Calls Out the Podcasters Live on Air
Unwilling to let the remarks go unanswered, Reason took matters into his own hands. He ambushed the hosts during their latest episode, challenging them on why they felt entitled to rank his relationships and questioning how such a discussion was relevant to their podcast’s content.
“You’re so comfortable talking about me that you might as well talk about me while I’m here,” he told the hosts.
Directly addressing their comments about Gigi Lamayne, Reason continued:
“Last week Sfiso made a comment about Gigi being a downgrade, so I came here to understand what that conversation was about. What part of the game is this? What gives anyone the right to call anyone a downgrade? How did you quantify that my current girlfriend is a downgrade from my ex?”
He further emphasized that relationships are built on love, not social status or financial power:
“I’m not dating someone because of their powerhouse. I am not dating someone because of what they have. I’m in a relationship with somebody because I love them. You sit here and have the opinion I downgraded. What downgrade? What gives you the right to sit here and discuss another man’s relationship and have the opinion they are a downgrade? What are you teaching kids here?”
Podcasters Issue Apology
Following Reason’s firm stance, the podcasters ended up apologizing to him and Gigi Lamayne, admitting that their comments were inappropriate. They even stated that they regretted publishing that part of the episode.
Reason later shared their apology on his social media with the caption: “At the end of the day, let it be known I am not the one.”
Public Reaction and Industry Support
Reason’s confrontation has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with fans and industry peers applauding him for defending his partner against public scrutiny. Many have also criticized the culture of reducing women to “upgrades” or “downgrades” based on subjective social standards.
Gigi Lamayne has yet to publicly comment on the incident, but her fans have rallied behind her, praising Reason for standing by her side.
Final Thoughts
This incident has highlighted an ongoing issue in entertainment and social media culture—where individuals, especially women, are often objectified and ranked based on superficial standards. Reason’s bold response sends a strong message that relationships should be about love and respect, not public opinion.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Reason has made it known that he won’t tolerate disrespect towards his partner.
