Little Simz has 'forgiven' her absent father
Little Simz has "forgiven" her dad for not being present in her life.
The 31-year-old rapper has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years, and although she still doesn't have a relationship with her dad, Simz insists she doesn't harbour any bitterness towards him, either.
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, she shared: "It doesn't affect the memories I have growing up.
"It just wasn't meant to be between them … but I think there's still a lot of love there, and I'm sure my dad respects my mum having raised his children, you know?
"Now that I'm older, I definitely just understand that parents are flawed as well, and I get it. I've tried to not hold on to the anger, maybe that I once felt, or like this deep resentment … I'm just trying to let it go."
Asked if it was tough to become so philosophical about his absence, Simz replied: "Definitely, 100 percent. Especially when you just internalise a lot of it.
"Like, did you not love me? Like, did you not … I don't think it's any of that. I just think it is what it is, to be honest. But I've forgiven him."
Simz was raised in London by her Nigerian mother, Tola, and their family home was always full of foster children.
The Picture Perfect hitmaker - whose real name is Simbiatu Ajikawo - actually relished the experience of spending time with so many different types of people at an early age.
She said: "I met so many different kids from all different walks of life who just became part of my family and who my mum nurtured and took care of.
"It was really beautiful. I gained newfound respect and appreciation for my family, knowing that it's not given that everyone has loving support … I never went a day without love."
Simz won the Brit Award for Best New Artist in 2022, and she took her mother on stage with her.
The rapper recalled: "I thought, 'wow, you came to this country not knowing anyone, not knowing a word of English, and now your last born has just won a Brit' … it's kind of crazy."
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