Latest news with #DawnThandekaKing
The Citizen
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘I died inside': Dawn Thandeka King on infidelity and heartbreak
Dawn was the latest guest on the Showmax talk show 'Untied'. Award-winning actress Dawn Thandeka King has opened up about the pain of betrayal and the strength it took to rebuild her life following her divorce. The Shaka iLembe star was the latest guest on the Showmax talk show Untied, which explores the raw realities of divorce through the voices of well-known South African women. Dawn candidly discussed the alleged infidelity that shook her marriage and how it left her deeply wounded. ALSO READ: Malusi Gigaba's attempt to halt broadcast of ex-wife's explosive episode on 'Untied' fails Dawn Thandeka King on fame, distance and growing apart She said the challenges began when she moved to Durban for her first major television role on Uzalo, leaving her husband and five children behind. 'The distance was the first challenge. And obviously now I'm in this industry, and I'm doing something that I truly love. It's going to show. I'm going to start looking like a happy woman. Not that I wasn't happy before, but something is happening to me that I never actually thought would happen. 'I think we, one, grew apart. And in our growing apart, I had found myself. Perhaps he hadn't found himself… The more I became famous, the more there was a rift — it just pushed us further and further apart,' she said. Dawn said what made it even more painful was the introduction of someone else into the relationship. 'I suppose this is the person he was speaking to about his troubles… He wasn't saying that to me. He was saying it to someone else. I think that killed me. I felt abandoned. 'It went back to the little girl who was not loved, who was looking to be loved. I died inside, and I thought this was it. For it to hurt me this deeply — that I can't see you as you anymore because you're seeing someone else, and now you can't see me as me anymore,' she added. Dawn also spoke about the courage it took to walk away from the relationship — a decision that, she said, marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with personal growth, spiritual discovery, and professional transformation. She said that her spiritual calling and connection to her ancestors guided her through some of her darkest moments. 'Because I then found an agency, and then my agency found me a job — and that was my first acting gig in 2012. I often wonder whether that was the reason I went through this journey that opened that door,' she said. NOW READ: 'Ma, life hasn't been the same without you' — Winnie Khumalo's kids on what would've been her 52nd birthday
News24
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Dawn Thandeka King opens up about her divorce on Untied: ‘That killed me'
Behind the spotlight, celebrities are often perceived as having it all together - flawless careers, perfect marriages or relationships, and Instagram worthy lives. But what happens when the curtain is pulled back? Showmax has recently launched a show called 'Untied' which reminds us that even the brightest stars are human, with emotions, struggles, and imperfections. A force in South African entertainment, Dawn Thandeka King is a SAFTA-winning actress, musician, motivational speaker, radio personality, and fashion entrepreneur. She's currently captivating audiences as Mkabayi on Shaka iLembe on Mzansi Magic and will star in BET's new daily drama Black Gold from next month, but on Untied, we meet the woman behind the roles. Hosted by the award-winning broadcaster Relebogile Mabotja, this episode offers a rare, intimate look at Dawn like never before. Read more | 'This is who he is': Norma Mngoma on explosive Showmax tell-all about ex Malusi Gigaba Here's why you need to watch: She opens up about her spiritual journey Dawn shares a deeply personal look into her spiritual awakening, how her connection with her ancestors and faith guided her through some of the darkest moments of her life, and how her gift also guided her into a career as an actress and her breakthrough into the industry: 'Because I then found an agency, and then my agency found me a job, and that was my first acting gig in 2012. I often wonder whether it was the reason I went through this journey that opened that door.' She gets real about motherhood As a mother of five, Dawn speaks candidly about the joys and challenges of raising children while juggling fame, heartbreak, and personal growth. She also opens up about the difficult time when she had to leave her kids and husband in Joburg to join Uzalo, where she played Lindiwe Xulu. 'I don't know when it became an 'I' thing. I moved alone to Durban.' She confronts infidelity and heartbreak For the first time, Dawn opens up about the alleged infidelity in her marriage, how it affected her emotionally, how she processed the betrayal, and the journey to reclaim her peace. She also spoke about how her husband at the time was not speaking to her about his issues – but was rather opening up to someone else. 'He wasn't saying that to me. He was saying it to someone else. I think that killed me. I felt abandoned.' She talks about choosing herself Dawn reflects on the courage it took to walk away from her marriage and rebuild her life. Her story is a testament to self-worth, healing, and the strength it takes to start over, even when it hurts. We are halfway through Untied but there is so much still to come including reality TV star Beverley Steyn, actress Mona Monyane, and media personality Zandi Nhlapo, who are set to open up and share their journeys.
News24
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Relebogile Mabotja talks hosting Showmax's new TV show on divorce called Untied
The new Showmax show Untied features eight South African celebrities who have experienced divorce. Hosted by Relebogile Mabotja, the series takes a deeply personal look into each of their journeys. With each episode featuring a different South African celebrity - including Dawn Thandeka King, Zandi Nhlapo and others - Relebogile reflects on the honour and challenge of guiding conversations on such an intimate and emotional subject. 'For me, there was no tension in the storytelling and the public perception. It was more of me creating a space where women felt that they were able to share parts of themselves in an environment that was free of judgment,' she tells TRUELOVE. Ethical considerations Her duty as a host includes being able to ask questions that viewers have in mind. 'I always had to keep in mind that in all of these stories, there are children involved - and the children involved, some are minors - but even those who are adults, still need to be protected and guarded in some way prior to having the sit-down interview. We were able to quickly have a chat about both feeling nervous about if they have any concerns.' Relebogile shares that she approaches 'no-go areas' in a way that is 'considerate of the sensitivities'. With the massive team behind her, they also help her stay in check as a host and as a facilitator of these sensitive conversations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Showmax (@showmaxonline) Narratives around womanhood and marriage With the women laying bare all the layers and realities that come with committing to a person legally, Relebogile shares how the show aims to challenge traditional South African narratives around womanhood, marriage and self-worth, which are also global. 'South Africans will be able to see themselves in at least one of these stories because it isn't just about divorce and marriage, it is also about the human experience. We are in an era of prioritising happiness, safety, security and being healthy over and above being married.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sheila Afari PR (@sapr_africa) Her takeaway from the show Despite how, for some people, the show might just be content, she shares how for the guests, it is their lives and their children's lives. 'Some of these stories are will be extremely triggering for viewers that may have experienced a similar thing and the responsibility on the show is to find the balance between allowing a person to share their experience their way with their own voice, sharing their narrative while also offering things like a right of reply to the other parties involved in their stories.' 'I used to think that resilience is something that shows itself when you're in the midst of going through it and going through the most but I realise resilience is also in the moments of things going well and continuing on a path of healing because you know where you've been and you understand that you may not be fully healed because the healing journey is a lonely and difficult one. 'Resilience does not always show itself in the ways we imagine. They also show themselves when you are now successful, have found love, all happy, and you are able to accept it, receive it and believe that you truly deserve it.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Talk Radio Station, 702 (@talkradio702)
