‘Distasteful, opportunistic’ – Forbes speak out on Melinda Ferguson’s book

An unauthorised biography is not an unusual thing.

For a public figure, it's fairly ordinary – unless you are Nellie Tembe.

The model and chef fell to her death in Cape Town from the 10th floor, a tragic end to a short life well lived.

The then partner of the 22-year-old, the late rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes, was broken by the alleged suicide.

Read more | AKA diagnosed with clinical depression

He was with her at the time of her death, reportedly.

Always followed by rumours of having somehow been responsible for her passing in 2021, the rapper's life was also cut short when he was shot dead in Durban last year.

And now there is an unauthorised biography by journalist, author and publisher 'Tell All Queen' Melinda Ferguson that has drawn his family's ire.

Read more | 'Keep us in your prayers' - AKA's family says after rapper killed in a hail of bullets in Durban

“We are not in any way associated with Melinda Ferguson’s book and we do not endorse it. 

“In the same breath we distance ourselves from the contents of the book,” said AKA’s parents Lynn and Tony Forbes in a press release released Monday, 15 April 2024.

“When Melinda reached out to us, we respectfully and rightfully declined to contribute to her book. 

“At this stage we cannot give any further comment on the book as we are unaware of its contents. 

“We do however find the intended publication of the book and the timing distasteful and opportunistic.”