Doja Cat Reveals Private Chat With Her “Deadbeat” Father

Doja Cat has shared a candid — and characteristically irreverent — anecdote about a recent WhatsApp exchange with her biological father, South African actor and dancer Dumisani Dlamini, that quickly went viral across social media.

In a TikTok video posted on March 20, the Grammy-winning artist recounted messaging Dlamini while preparing for her headlining performance that evening at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena as part of Global Citizen’s Move Afrika tour. The show marked a key stop on her Tour Ma Vie, supporting her latest album Vie, which debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 last year and produced Hot 100 entries like “Jealous Type” and “Gorgeous.”

According to Doja Cat’s narration, Dlamini — whom she has previously described publicly as largely absent from her life since childhood — explained that he would not attend the concert because she does not message or call him frequently enough on WhatsApp. The comment, which appeared to shift responsibility for their limited contact onto her, prompted a mischievous response.

Instead of providing a conventional ticket or further discussion, Doja sent him a link to TimTales, an amateur gay adult video site, while telling him it would allow him to “get a ticket super duper easy.”

She recounted his initial reply as treating the message seriously: “Oh yes, I will send this to my management. My management will handle all of this. At the moment I’m just very busy doing costume and rehearsal, so at the moment I cannot do this myself.” When he asked for clarification on the link, she resent it.

Upon finally clicking, Dlamini reportedly responded with confusion: “Darling, what is this? This, what I’m seeing, is gay porn. It’s like a porno on my screen, and I don’t know if it’s a scam… So please, sweetheart, I don’t know what to do with this. I can’t get the ticket.”

Doja shared the story while laughing, framing it as lighthearted retaliation in their ongoing dynamic. She captioned the clip along the lines of “Deadbeat Chronicles” and specified the site in follow-up commentary.

The clip drew immediate reactions online, with fans praising the “savage” and “peak chaotic” energy typical of Doja’s unfiltered social media presence. Others expressed sympathy, viewing it as reflective of deeper unresolved family tensions, while some South African commenters noted discomfort with publicly airing private matters.

Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, has long been open about her complicated relationship with her father, known for roles in Sarafina! and South African television. The Pretoria date represented a rare potential opportunity for connection during her African leg, though no confirmation has emerged on whether he attended or if the pair addressed the exchange afterward.

The incident underscores Doja’s signature approach to blending personal stories with provocative humor, turning candid moments into viral content that keeps conversations buzzing.