A Durban mother says she never imagined that a decision she made while desperately searching for money to support her child would one day become the subject of national discussion.
The 31-year-old woman, who appeared in a controversial casting interview that has since gone viral across social media platforms, has broken her silence about the personal struggles that she says led her to participate.
The woman, known online by the pseudonym “Rishala Flames,” told Celebrity Breeze that she is a single mother who was under immense financial pressure when she attended the interview.
According to her, the primary motivation was simple: she wanted to secure money that would help keep her child in school.
“I was trying to raise school fees for my kid,” she said during an interview with Celebrity Breeze. “Things were very difficult, and I felt like I needed to find a way to provide.”
She described herself as a parent carrying most of the responsibility for raising her child alone.
“The child’s father is not here,” she said. “I have been trying to do everything I can to make sure my child has what he needs.”
The video, which has circulated widely online in recent weeks, has triggered fierce debate among South Africans. Many social media users expressed shock after viewing clips from the casting interview, while others questioned the circumstances surrounding the recording and the treatment of vulnerable job seekers.
For the woman at the center of the controversy, however, the attention has come at a painful personal cost.
She revealed that her son has been affected by the public reaction to the video, with classmates reportedly discussing the footage at school.
“My child is suffering because of this,” she said. “People are talking about the video. Children hear things. It has been difficult.”
Her voice reportedly trembled at times as she spoke about the impact the situation has had on her family.
“No mother wants her child to go through something like this,” she said. “That is what hurts me the most.”
The woman admitted that she now feels embarrassed by the public attention generated by the footage.
“I am ashamed,” she said. “When I look at everything that has happened, I feel embarrassed. But at the time I was thinking about survival.”
She said that financial hardship can push people into situations they would not ordinarily consider.
“When you are struggling and trying to take care of your child, you sometimes think an opportunity might help change your situation,” she explained. “You hope things will get better.”
The viral clips have fueled broader conversations online about unemployment, poverty and the challenges facing single parents across South Africa.
Thousands of comments have appeared on social media platforms, with many users expressing sympathy for people who find themselves in desperate financial circumstances.
Others have used the incident to warn aspiring models, actors and entertainers about the importance of researching opportunities carefully before attending interviews or auditions.
While public opinion remains divided, the woman says she hopes people will remember that there is a real person behind the viral headlines.
“People see a video and they make judgments,” she said. “But they don’t always know what someone is going through in their life.”
She also appealed for compassion toward her child, saying children should not have to carry the burden of adult decisions.
“My son didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I just want him to be able to focus on school and have a normal life.”
As the debate surrounding the viral casting footage continues online, the Durban mother says she is trying to move forward and rebuild her life.
“I cannot change what has happened,” she said. “All I can do is learn from it, take care of my child and keep moving forward.”
For now, she says her greatest wish is not fame, attention or public sympathy.
“I just want peace,” she said. “And I want my child to have a better future.”