Kuala Lumpur, El Sky News – The famous jazz singer, Atilia Haron, has finally broken her silence to explain the controversy surrounding her social media post that went viral immediately after the climax of the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) awards ceremony last September. The post, which commented on singing styles, was misinterpreted as mocking or questioning the victory of certain artists at the prestigious awards show.
Speaking to the media recently, Atilia, 51, emphasized that her statement was absolutely not directed at any local singer, let alone intended to bring anyone down.
“Honestly, I had zero awareness that night was AIM night. At that time, I was relaxing at home and was completely engrossed in watching a performance by international jazz icon, Norah Jones,” explained Atilia, who is indeed familiar with the AIM organization since its first edition.
Only an Example of Norah Jones’ Soft Vocals
According to the owner of the album Sangkar, the post that sparked the netizen debate was merely a spontaneous outpouring based on her observation of Norah Jones’ vocal style, which is famous for soft singing and not needing to “scream” to convey emotion.
“I was just stating an opinion, ‘If Norah Jones sang in Malaysia, maybe she wouldn’t win an award because she doesn’t sing by screaming.’ That was my only point. It was just an example to describe her soft vocals, and had absolutely nothing to do with whoever won at AIM,” she added.
Admitting that she prioritizes good relationships, Atilia took the proactive initiative to personally contact the singer who was linked to the issue to ensure there was no bad blood.
“We are friends. I immediately direct messaged the singer concerned, and alhamdulillah (thank God), she also said there was no serious issue between us. I was relieved to hear that,” she shared.
Deleting the Post for Mental Health
Answering the question of why she decided to delete the controversial post, Atilia clarified that the action was not because she admitted guilt, but rather to protect her own mental health.
“I know what I wrote. I am a positive person, but when this issue dragged on and people started making various interpretations, I decided to delete it. I didn’t expect that deleting it would make the speculation worse. Actually, I deleted it for my own good,” Atilia asserted, hoping the issue can be fully closed.
