Acclaimed author Melinda Ferguson has responded to the overwhelming backlash she has labelled “spitting vitriol” to her new book When Live Kills, about the tragic love story between Anele Tembe and AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes.
The book – which will document the couple’s rollercoaster romance and both their untimely deaths – is set to hit bookshelves this week.
Melinda has been criticised on social media over the “timing” of the release, which comes amid Anele’s inquest and AKA’s murder trial.
Both the Tembe and Forbes families have also distanced themselves from the book.
AUTHOR MELINDA FERGUSON ON PUBLIC BACKLASH
Last week, Anele Tembe was remembered on the third anniversary of her death. The 22-year-old chef fell to her death off the 10th floor of a Cape Town hotel while in the company of her partner.
It’s also a little over 14 months since her fiancé, AKA, was shot and killed in a hit. Seven men are currently facing murder charges in the Duban High Court.
Amid the news, Melinda Ferguson announced the impending release of the book When Love Kills, which will tell the story of Anele and AKA’s toxic relationship and tragic demise.
However, the news has been met with criticism from the public for its “bad timing” and with allegations that Melinda is “profiting” off the double tragedy.
In a Facebook post, the author revealed she had taken a beating in the online attack.
She wrote: “I’m not going to lie here…the last 24 hours have been a lot.
“While I knew that the book would probably cause a stir, I did not expect the crazy responses that it has received.
Melinda claimed that she “felt deeply affected and misunderstood by the spitting vitriol.”
“I know we live in a world of social media, where unkindness and callousness drive the conversation, but it’s a lot”.
I’m not going to lie here…the last 24 hours have been a lot. While I knew that the book would probably cause a stir, I…
Posted by Melinda Ferguson on Friday 12 April 2024
HER OWN STRUGGLE WITH BAD DECISIONS
Melinda Ferguson claimed that Anele Tembe and AKA’s story “spoke” to her, stemming from her own life experiences.
She continued: “I wrote this book in an attempt to try and understand a story about two people who fell down a rabbit hole of toxic love. Something kept driving me to keep on in search of some kind of truth about what happened. And why they were now both dead…
“I have been through my own kind of hell in my life as an addict and as someone who has embarked on dangerous and obsessive relationships.
“Their story spoke to me. It literally broke my heart”.
Melinda penned the autobiographies Hooked, Smacked, Crashed, and Bamboozled about her struggles with substance abuse, sobriety, and a near-fatal car crash.
ANELE TEMBE, AKA FAMILIES RESPOND TO BOOK
Meanwhile, both the families of Anele Tembe and Kiernan Forbes have issued statements about Melinda Ferguson’s book amid its release.
AKA’s parents, Lynn and Tony, distanced themselves from the memoir, which they claimed they declined to contribute to.
“…[we] find the intended publication of the book and the timing distasteful and opportunistic.” read the statement.
Moses Tembe, the father of Anele, denied contributing to the book in a statement to The South African. However, Melinda claimed she “definitely did have permission” from him.
