South African content creator Grace Mondlana has found herself at the centre of social media discussion after a video showed her not immediately engaging with a group of excited schoolchildren. The short clip has sparked mixed reactions online, with some people defending her actions while others questioned her behaviour as a public figure.
The video, which has been widely shared across social media platforms, shows Grace attending a public gathering where a group of school pupils appeared eager to meet her. In the clip, the children can be seen calling out to her loudly and excitedly as she walks past them. However, Grace did not stop or directly acknowledge the children in the moment, which left some viewers disappointed.
Grace Mondlana encountered some high school pupils and she acted like she was too good to speak pic.twitter.com/wbR5Q9TNSo
— NANDI PRETENDING TO BE FINE AFTER MAPS HEARTBREAK (@Burnerburnerac5) January 27, 2026
As she walked towards a car, Grace was accompanied by another man who many believe to be her bodyguard. According to viewers, she did not make eye contact with the screaming children, which led to criticism from some social media users. The clip was reshared on X by @Burnerburnerac5, who claimed: “Grace Mondlana encountered some high school pupils and she acted like she was too good to speak.”
The moment quickly divided opinion online, with people debating what is expected of celebrities in public spaces. Some users felt Grace should have at least greeted the children, while others argued that content creators and celebrities are human and not always emotionally available.
Several people came to Grace’s defence on X, pointing out that no one knows what she may have been going through at the time. @@Ledwabajahiem commented, “You can’t always be in a good mood, she is human too. People must just learn to pass this celebrities.”
Another user, @MarciaTurn10919, added, “Maybe she wasn’t feeling good. Let her be.” Others echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the pressure placed on public figures to always be friendly and approachable.
@lonene_nene commented, “Being famous is a lot imagine having a bad day and this happens and you’re expected to smile, hug and take pictures with this much people.” Meanwhile, @greenmachine061 shared, “I feel for famous people, imagine being shy or introverted n people think your mean, I’m not saying this is the case for her but I know it is for many especially Tik tokers.”
However, not everyone was sympathetic. Some users felt Grace’s reaction came across as dismissive. @thabang4real2 commented, “Does she know she’s not in Hollywood.” Another user, @palesapene19231, wrote, “Is she acting like she’s dodging paparazzi? nah this girl is healing her high school traumas.”
