Wendy Shay, nominee for Artiste of the Year at the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards, has issued a strong caution to public relations practitioners and entertainment pundits, making it clear she will not hesitate to pursue legal action if her brand is damaged during award season campaigns.
The Ghanaian singer raised her concerns during an interview with DJ Slim, where she addressed what she describes as an increasingly aggressive and politicised awards campaign culture in the industry, particularly the use of hired voices to promote artistes.
According to the “Heaven” singer, the growing reliance on PR teams and pundits to push narratives during award periods has become excessive and often counterproductive.
“I feel like in the past two or three years, whenever there’s any award scheme coming up, it’s like people hire PRs and pundits to talk for them on their behalf. And I just feel like it has become too political,” she said.
She stressed that while promotion and advocacy are expected during awards seasons, the manner in which some of these messages are delivered can cause long-term harm to other artistes who are also in contention.
“Something that is supposed to be temporary will leave a permanent dent on an artiste because everybody wants to speak up for the artiste and they end up saying all sorts of things. You don’t know how powerful words are. You can paint somebody in a very dark and black slate, and after the award is done, people will always remember that person for that,” she warned.
Wendy Shay clarified that her issue is not with healthy competition or fans passionately supporting their favourites, but with commentary that undermines or discredits fellow nominees.
“You can talk about your artiste without making a mockery of another. You can just speak facts about your artiste. But don’t make the other person look like nothing,” she said.
She further disclosed that she has already cautioned her own team against engaging in such practices, adding that she will not accept any attempt by individuals speaking on her behalf to tarnish the image of others.
“I wouldn’t tolerate it for anybody who will be speaking on my behalf to make another artiste look like trash. And I won’t like it for anybody to downplay my brand or make my brand look very small because I have really worked hard for it.
“I would definitely find a way; even if it’s not me, there will definitely be a way the person is going to be addressed. Because you cannot dent my hard-earned brand that I’ve been working on. If I have to get a lawyer involved, I would, because this is my reputation,” Wendy Shay further stated.
Watch the interview below.
