Annie... WTF? - Young, Famous and African S3

What the hell did we just watch? (Short Review Series)

Yeah, of course I watched it.

No, I don’t usually watch reality tv shows, as their very serious decline in authenticity and ability to make sense makes them now so unbearable… So you won’t be getting regular reality tv posts unless it’s a show that really catches my dry eye.

But as a media head and an African who grew up on a lot of African media, I am an avid (!) supporter of anything African and it breaking barriers into mainstream western spaces, so I actually have been waiting for this, especially after watching ‘The Ultimatum: South Africa’. It’s been proven the South African’s bring back that authentic vibe western reality tv has rapidly let go of and is producing absolutely stellar (in production and storyline) seat hanging content.

A short synopsis: the star dazzling Netflix show first premiered in the UK March 2022. It follows the intricate lives and relationships of some of Africa’s biggest stars across the continent from Nigeria to Namibia, but all in based in South Africa. We get to see how the rich live, what their values are, who ticks them off and what they do about it.

AKA, a bunch of rich people always getting dressed up and having dinner parties to fight. But African and with the budget we fucking deserve to showcase our continent and people in the light owed to us for the work we put in to keep it running.

This review is retrospectively written for those who couldn’t help but binge till the end and those who won’t care to watch but want to know. I will be discussing general thoughts on the key events that stood out to me across the entire season. Therefore, with no context, it may be hard to understand the chronology and this will be filled with spoilers.

If this sounds like it’s up your alley in interest, please subscribe for more!

Now we’ve broken some ice, ladies and gentlemen, let’s get into the fuckery.

ARCHETYPES

Reality TV is full of storylines which keep us hooked. Every story has characters. Every character has an archetype. Like the laws of the universe, the ying and yang, there’s a hero and there’s a villain.

We all can’t stand the villain because of their drastic immoral behaviour causing destruction to the status quo. In the instances where we get to learn more about the villains, we discover a backstory explaining the world or a circumstance serving them with pain to make them the way they are.

Cold. Ruthless. Nonchalant. Narccisitic. Aggressive. Chaotic. Disruptive. Sneaky. Untrustworthy. Unpredictable. Should the list go on?

And like a plant parent speaking life into their babies, the villain engulfs these words into their skin and expels any remanence of solving the pain in any other ways but destructive.

Doesn’t that sound familiar?

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Something is up with Annie. More than usual. I do not live with the lady so I can only suspect and infer from the behavior I witnessed, despite reality TV being heavily constructed via edits. But my sentiments echo the streets right now anyway, as most are concerned about her mental and physical health at this point. We will break this down further through the review.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

By now, I believe as an audience, we are a hundred percent used to Annie and her antics as with two prior seasons, she’s shown her true colours extremely well. Although picking unnecessary fights and taking shit personal is her forte, there was definitely an up in the anti this season from start to finish.

‘THAT’S A KID!’: Annie vs Zari

Annie arrives at Zari’s wedding (which I also reviewed, can be found here), her and Fantana are confused about why they’re invited, but decided to honour the invite. In true Annie fashion, she begins her shit by rolling digs at Zari over the similarities of her wedding or something? I don’t know. Just taking something so stupid so personal again, which is odd behaviour number one.

In the midst of the ceremony, whilst being seated behind Zari’s older children, she begins a gossip topic on the age gap between Zari and her husband. Loudly. Number Two

Honestly, I really didn’t understand these two’s relationship. Still, I’ll give Zari immense credit for her higher road approach in trying to understand Annie is going through something and reaching out an olive branch, trying to do things differently. I believe Annie finally came around to it genuinely.

The house of friendship is not built on a strong foundation because Annie has a pattern of going to unforgivable lengths. Zari was right when she said it’s not fair Annie can claim her family is off limits but she can dig at hers.

I do hope Zari’s newish leaf can rub off on Annie to get her some softness in her heart. Obviously, there is a lot more going on there which I’m getting to.

THIS FUCKING VOICE NOTE.

Father in Heaven have mercy on our souls, I can’t hear about this voice note again.

Let the record show how drained Swanky is from this two to three year old drama. Valid for Annie to be hurt that her child is questioning her integrity, but she really doesn’t help with the way she acts. If you were never that kind of person, you wouldn’t even be in the firing line of accusation in the first place, but you constantly prove yourself to be untrustworthy and two faced.

It’s been repeated that it was a three way call which Annie claimed Swanky was NOW lying about (I remember myself Swanky saying it was a three way call two-three years ago…) but wanted to finally put the foolishness to rest. I don’t have much to say on this voice note because we are all. fucking. tired of it.

One thing I stand by in all relationships of all capacity is you do not talk to me like an opp on the road or crazy. Annie’s harsh classism paired with inflated ego both came out to shine when she claimed people wanna beat up Swanky for the disrespect against her, which she couldn’t confirm with her chest to his face. The levels of delusion are deplorable, how can you take that stance against someone who was family? Why you gotta go that far?

When Ini Edo tried to help, Annie swung it on her. When Fantana let her vent but rightfully relayed the messages to Swanky, she got burned. Anyone gets involved, she’s turning it on herself and going into automatic victim mode at such an age, purposefully avoiding any accountability of her ways. So much so she got angry at Swanky (who she was beefing at the time) for not defending her!? It’s getting very exhausting and I don’t believe anyone can maintain a healthy friendship with someone like that. She’s overtly unstable.

This mentality in my opinion, is rooted and derived from this illusion of respect some Africans of the older generations hold. Where they feel due to their status or age or some made up barometer, that they can’t be challenged or held responsible for their stupidity. Almost in an effort to claim they’re perfect or untouchable because of this imaginary barometer.

Although she’s made up with some people, there will always be the scarring of the destruction she’s caused onto the group with her venomous tongue and actions which Nadia didn’t hesitate to call out.

ANNIE’S APOLOGY EXTRAVAGANZA: Annie vs Nadia

Nadia said what were all thinking watching the show. Everytime.

Nadia, to me, was the only logical cast member this season, alongside Shakib & Ini. So, when Annie wanted to begin casting her olive branches, Nadia wasn’t having any of it.

Yes, we should be able to forgive, forget and let go for our own sakes. That is true.

When Annie called DJ Naked to do throw this Apology Fiesta, he should have given Nadia the opportunity to choose to do so herself, instead of misleading them to Annie’s ‘I’m Sorry’ Ball, knowing they’re coming off the cracks of a heated tension from the start of the series where everyone but Nadia was agreeing that they notice Annie’s going though something.

Nadia stated there that it’s not fair to hurt others and act the way she does just because she’s going through / went through stuff. Everybody has and not everyone is lashing out. Nadia herself is in the process of freshly grieving her boyfriend rapper AKA, who was killed in February 2023, but we don’t witness her lashing out randomly at people.

At the Apology Ball, she echoed her earlier sentiments with absolute frustration and rage which we could tell she needed to let out. And it was the perfect opportunity because she didn’t say anything wrong or go as low as Annie did, unless it was dished first.

To put the icing on the cake, Annie wasn’t even woman enough to initiate her own apology at the muhfucking apology party! She was more involved in arguing with Ini (her friend) who was trying to help than actually apologizing and folded back into the victim mentality, which set Nadia a light.

Nadia was explaining she believes the group are making excuses for Annie’s behavior and it’s fake to pretend this woman hasn’t been venom to the group. Annie has taken these spats and issues to very muddy waters with her ego, her disrespect, her mouth, her back handed compliments, the list goes on.

Again, in the midst of Nadia trying to hold Annie accountable, in defense of her, the oh so sad victim, Annie accuses her of talking shit about her. At this point, Nadia throws the gloves off and explodes. Verbally.

ANNIE WALKS OUT OF HER OWN APOLOGY BALL.

GUYS. ALLERGIC TO ACCOUNTABILITY.

What I think is wrong with this woman…

To bounce off Nadia’s sentiments, we all fucking go through shit. I promise you, the people who’ve been through the most that I know NEVER treat people like this.

Miscarriages' are absolutely horrible and my heart & sympathy goes out to not only Annie and Ini but any woman who has to experience one at any time in life as they’re so hard to maneuver without adequate support and education. Nobody should have to go through it let alone with twins or six times.

Usually this is the part where I say God forgive me but as I grow older, I mean this with my full chest more and more: let me find a nicer way to say it; rejection is God’s protection.

Sometime, the miscarriage is God intervening to save you. And like everything else, it is up to you to listen.

I specifically mentioned support and education.

A man that can have five babies outside your marriage within the time you two were married is not adequate support.

Never will I understand why she rides so so hard for this monster but I genuinely feel he’s embarrassed her into poor mental health. Whether we call it heart break or shame or whatever, I feel like it’s lead her to become what we are seeing.

Annie’s movement and mannerisms remind me of someone battles with substance abuse. This is a pro responsible drug page meaning, recreational usage under safe use and control is not going to keep me up at night.

But I recognize drugs are an escape and people that take them to the levels of it affecting their daily function are trying to fill a deep emotional void or forget traumatic things. It wouldn’t surprise me if this woman is self medicating.

She can’t sit still. Her head will not stay put when she’s talking. She jumps to erratic conclusions. Her child like responses. She’s not even coherent. Her eyes rolling each and everyway. Signs of someone within addiction or suffering the effects of the long term use in recovery.

When she and Fantana went out for drinks for her to just chat shit about Swanky, I was laughing saying ‘ this lady is just a drunk ‘ but no. Noo, it got more and more serious to me that she really could be so heartbroken she’s begun to dabble in some sniffles or non chewable tablets. Cause that is not no Mary J movements, I tell you that.

STOCKHOLM SYDROME

Yet, she still takes up for that man up to date. I’m very sorry, if you think you can convince me the treatment she’s gotten over the years is not the result of all this, you will be trying till Jesus returns. Her mind does not seem straight guys. I suspect some kind of mild or soft psychosis induced by heartbreak.

In comparison to Zari and Diamond, 2Face and Annie also have an intertwined brand and it’s strong as a united front, which is partially why I believe she takes it and stays. He gives her that ego, that bravado. That status and age in the game that she likes to swing around Swanky’s face but that fuel her gives is the most toxic diesel you could ever get.

But she is too far gone I believe, which indicates she’s given up and surrendered to her circumstances, which is quite sad.

WRAP IT UP

Honest to God, I hope she get’s help. I really do. This is not good for her children to have to witness. It’s becoming more of being an actual villain than playing into the role of one and it’s from her hurt. People who operate like this are operating in deep pain, hence everyone’s attempts to make peace with her for understanding sake.

Annie’s tale is one as old as time, and it’s one with the lesson of self worth and progression. See, Annie is very quick to swing her dick around when it comes to her hierarchy within the group, yet she stands last place with most developed mind. She struggles to move past things and operates within that traumatic response to whatever it is. So what does all the money and accolades and ‘respect’ boil down to when you’re a shitty human being behind it all that nobody can respect?

At what stage do you begin to feel the coldness of all that you create? Or maybe you’re so far gone, it’s now turned into a comforting heat for you. That’s how much pain you’re in.

From someone who claims to love. You.

If you have a friend like Annie, someone who’s toxic towards your life, use the three strike rule. Because you can try to help someone only so many times before it’s detrimental to you and it affects your mind. Just like it did Annie’s.

I don’t have any proof she’s on anything, this is just my opinion.

I hope you enjoyed this short partial review on Young Famous and African season 3. I’ve rambled for long enough, I really want to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Do you agree that she needs help? Or is she just doing reality TV really well for the bag, because we’re all gathered here today talking about her. Did you enjoy the show?

Whatever it is, leave a like if you enjoyed, subscribe for more as this series will continue, and leave that comment for us to connect.

Thanks for taking the time internet friend, have a great day :)