Nara Smith and Onezwa Mbola

TikTokers Accuse Nara Smith Of Copying Onezwa Mbola's Video

Home / Entertainment / TikTokers Accuse Nara Smith Of Copying Onezwa Mbola's Video

By Melanie VanDerveer on July 16, 2024 at 7:45 PM EDT

Just weeks after Onezwa Mbola accused Nara Smith of stealing her cooking content ideas, TikTokers are calling Smith out for seemingly copying another one of Mbola's viral videos.

One day after Mbola shared a video showing her making "Biang biang noodles with antelope steak," Smith shared a video of her making a very similar Thai dish.

TikTokers have taken note that Smith's video is very similar to Mbola's and many have chosen a side.

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Many TikTokers Claim Nara Smith's Video Is Similar To Onezwa Mbola's Video

Nara Smith
TikTok | Nara Smith

On Monday, Smith shared a video on TikTok demonstrating how she made a particular Thai dish. It didn't take long for her followers to notice the similarities between her video and one that Mbola shared one day prior.

"I've had Thai food four times last week, and here I am yet again craving it, so we're making it again," Smith said in her viral video. "There's nothing better to me than Pad See Ew, mango sticky rice and some blistered green beans."

Smith then demonstrated making the noodles from scratch and preparing the other ingredients. After sharing her video, it didn't take long for the comment section to light up with frustration over the recipe being super similar to the one that Mbola shared the day prior.

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Nara Smith's Followers Called Her Out In The Comment Section

Smith's video quickly received more than 5 million views and nearly 8,000 comments. Many of the comments call the content creator out for copying Mbola's recent video.

"She's trying to press Onezwa so hard," one viewer wrote. More than 11,000 other viewers liked that comment.

Another viewer shared, "This is cruel Nara. Are we witnessing bullying?" One other added, "Nara, you can't keep getting away with this."

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TikTokers Claim Onezwa Mbola's Video Was Undeniably Similar

One day before Smith shared her Thai dish video, Mbola shared a similar one. Captioned, "Biang biang noodles with antelope steak. Hand-pulled noodles are such a treat," Mbola's video also went viral with more than 1 million views and 1,000 comments.

"I just saw that other video. Team Onezwa all the way. We love you, mama," one viewer shared in the comment section. Another said, "I believed you from day one."

In Mbola's video, she demonstrates cutting her steak, making noodles from scratch and then hand-pulling them, chopping her fresh veggies, and cooking it all up.

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Onezwa Mbola Accused Nara Smith Of Stealing Her Content Ideas Just Last Month

Onezwa Mbola
TikTok | Onezwa Mbola

In June, Mbola took to TikTok to explain that she believes Smith is stealing her ideas to gain views and profit. While she didn't name Smith at the time, TikTokers knew exactly who she was talking about.

"For four months now, I have watched a very, very popular content creator use my ideas and again, I'm not the first person to do anything. They've continuously used my ideas to get views," Mbola said in the since-deleted video.

"Now, that would be fine, except in South Africa, we don't get paid for views and where she is, they get paid for views, so she has been making money off stealing my content."

Mbola also talked about one particular video - a boba tea demo.

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"I was so very, very, very, very proud of that video. I tweeted about it, I was so excited for it and then a day later, she made a boba video and you might say it might be a coincidence," Mbola said. "That would be fine if it were a coincidence, except it's a coincidence that happens very often, so is it really a coincidence?"

Nara Smith Responded To The Original Accusations

Nara Smith
TikTok | Nara Smith

After accusing Smith of stealing her ideas, Mbola shared the message she received from Smith on X, formerly known as Twitter. (At the time, Mbola's X was open to all, but now, only approved followers can see her posts.)

"I am writing to address a serious matter regarding your recent statements accusing me of stealing your content. You have publicly claimed that I stole your videos related to boba tea and mozzarella cheese, which is untrue and damaging to my reputation," Smith wrote to Mbola.

"These allegations are entirely false. The videos in question are not my original creations, and I have all the necessary proof of this on the social media platform TikTok. Your false allegations have caused significant harm to my personal and professional reputation."

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The email also said that it's a "formal notice" that if the accusations about Smith aren't retracted, she will "have no choice but to pursue legal action" against Mbola for "defamation of character."

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