“People threw plastic bottles at me” —Tems reflects on her journey to Grammy glory

Tems recently shared a powerful memory from the early days of her music journey and it’s not what you’d expect from a Grammy-winning star.

In a candid chat with Big Boy TV, the “Crazy Tings” singer opened up about a tough moment that could have made her quit.

Picture this: a young, hopeful artist preparing to perform at her school. She’s excited. She’s confident. She’s imagining applause, cheers, maybe even a standing ovation.
But that’s not what happened.

Instead of support, she was met with boos.
Instead of applause, plastic bottles were thrown at her.

She stated;

“I remember preparing to perform at my school as an aspiring artist, thinking I would receive applause and support,” . “But instead, I was booed, and people threw plastic bottles at me.”

Ouch.

For many people, that kind of public rejection would be enough to walk away from music entirely. But not Tems.

Looking back, she believes part of the resistance came from her decision to stay true to her sound. While many of her peers were performing covers or following popular trends, she chose originality. She chose authenticity. Even when it wasn’t popular.
And that choice though painful at first became her power.

Today, the same artist who was once booed off stage is celebrated globally and recognized as a Grammy-winning talent.

Reflecting on her journey, she expressed gratitude for not giving in to the pressure to conform.

Her story is a reminder that rejection isn’t always the end of the road. Sometimes, it’s just the beginning.

From being booed at a school show to owning international stages Tems’ journey proves that staying true to yourself can be the loudest comeback of all.