Minnie Dlamini Says MacG Podcast Fallout Cost Her R897,000 Nivea Campaign

Media personality Minnie Dlamini says comments made about her on MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho’s Podcast and Chill cost her a Nivea campaign worth R897,000 and affected her professional career, according to the Sunday Times.

Dlamini made the claims in a 79-page statement filed at the Equality Court sitting at the Johannesburg High Court, where she is seeking R2.5 million in damages from MacG.

The case relates to an April 2025 episode of the podcast in which MacG discussed Dlamini’s relationship history and made comments questioning whether there was “something wrong with her”. He also speculated about the smell of her private parts.

Dlamini said she had worked with Nivea since 2023 and had agreed to a R897,000 campaign in April 2025. The campaign included four Instagram reels, three half-day mall activations and a half-day e-commerce appearance.

A Nivea activation at the Mall of Africa went ahead on May 1, but Dlamini said subsequent meetings were cancelled or postponed following the controversy.

According to Dlamini, representatives from Dentsu later told her team that Nivea and its parent company, Beiersdorf, were concerned about the controversy and would not continue with the campaign.

Dlamini disputes an explanation that the campaign was cancelled because of a budget change. She maintains that the agreement had already been reached and that she had completed work under the campaign.

MacG, in his answering affidavit, said his comments were “speculative in nature” and were not intended to cause harm.

He also said he had apologised and was willing to participate in mediation and gender-sensitisation sessions.

Dlamini further claims that the controversy had a significant impact on her wellbeing, causing severe anxiety and keeping her at home for about a month.

Her mother, Gloria Queen Dlamini, described her daughter as deeply distressed by the fallout from the comments.

The former television presenter is seeking R1 million in damages for herself and a further R1.5 million for Women for Change, bringing the total claim to R2.5 million.

The matter is before the Equality Court at the Johannesburg High Court, with Dlamini’s claims and MacG’s response forming part of the proceedings.