South Africa’s favourite couple and the first Springbok family – Rachel and Siya Kolisi – have officially called it quits. But while the majority of fans are heartbroken over their impending divorce, others claimed they “saw it coming.”
Fuelling much social media speculation are the multiple clapbacks Rachel has publicly served to female admirers of her husband.
RACHEL KOLISI’S CLAPBACKS OVER THE YEARS
On Tuesday, 22 October, Siya and Rachel Kolisi announced their separation after eight years of marriage.
While the couple’s official statement claimed that the split was amicable, South Africans wondered if there was more to the story.
Some even recalled the many times Rachel had “checked” groupies of her husband, who she claime “disrespected” her.
In 2018, Rachel first clapped back at a woman on social media who claimed Siya was her “type.”
Taking to her Twitter account – which she has since deleted – Rachel clapped back: “[Siya’s] not ‘a type’. He’s a married man responsible for four children.”
In a separate tweet, she added: “Just a side note. I’ve been there for all the good times. But I’ve also been there for ALL the bad times. Honestly, this should go without saying. Respect my relationship and woman to woman. Respect me.”
Rachel then called out a celeb – later identified as TV personality Lorna Maseko – who allegedly encouraged her friend to date a married man, name-dropping Siya Kolisi.
Rachel tweeted at the time: “I watched a local TV show last week where a local ‘celeb’ was encouraging her friend to ‘go after/date/hook up’ with Siya Kolisi. Had to rewind a few times to make sure I heard right.”
While Rachel did not name her, Twitter detectives dug up the clip in question from the reality TV show Being Bonang.
SIYA SLIDING IN THE DMS?
A few months later, Rachel Kolisi dealt with another fan, influencer Zuki Lamani.
This, after Zuki posted pictures of her fangirling over the star rugby player, whom she nicknamed “baby”.
The pics quickly went viral, but for all the wrong reasons. Zuki – who admitted that Siya was her celebrity crush – was indirectly labelled “thirsty” by his wife Rachel, who left a comment under the post.
In 2019, Rachel Kolisi trended again when she named and shamed a Cape Town woman she accused of “sliding” into her husband’s DMs.
“Just wondering what her a** is doing in my husband’s DMs?” she shared alongside a pic of the woman wearing a thong. She added: “In case you haven’t heard, I don’t like being disrespected.”
According to the woman – fitness model Marike Botha – Rachel got it all wrong.
She shared in a series of Instagram Stories “Siya Kolisi slid into my DM’s. Sends me the post that I posted on IG. His wife sees this and makes it look like I’m sending him my a**.”.
WOULD YOU DATE SIYA KOLISI?
Last year, South African YouTuber quartet The Boys – asked female rugby fans if they would like to “date Siya Kolisi” in a viral video.
And it seems many young women would, despite the fact that the Springbok captain was a happily married man at the time, or so we thought.
“Besides the fact that he is the captain of the Springboks, he is a really funny guy, and I like funny people,” said one young woman. Two more women agreed.
“If I wasn’t engaged, yes!” said one, “If I didnt have a boyfriend, yes!” said another.
A fourth jokingly jested: “Rachel, it’s my turn, girl.”
Interestingly, Rachel Kolisi jumped in the comments, posting: “This is brilliant”.
DO YOU THINK A THIRD PARTY IS BEHIND THE COUPLE’S SPLIT?
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