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Pearl Thusi

TV and radio personality Pearl Thusi has allegedly been fired by SABC’s Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng. A few hours before the announcement of her resignation from SABC’s flagship music show – Live AMP was made, Pearl and Naija superstar D’Banj were revealed as the new hosts of rival, MTV’s Lip Sync Battle.News of Pearl’s exit from the weekly music show was followed by swirling weekend reports, which claim that Pearl’s resignation from Live AMP allegedly angered SABC big wigs.

An irate Motsoeneng told Thusi that new rules prohibited SABC talent from working for rival media houses and that she would be in breach of her contract if she joined the e.tv show, according to a Sunday World report. Motsoeneng has allegedly given instruction that Pearl be removed from her other projects with the SABC.

On Saturday, Thusi was absent from the station’s popular The Real Phat Joe show with Phat Joe that she co-hosts.

Thusi was also allegedly banned from her Metro FM Sunday show The Blackout and Motsoeneng is apparently pulling the strings to get the model to lose her job on SABC3’s soapie Isidingo.

According to the report, Motsoeneng begged Thusi to re-consider her move but the presenter flatly refused.

Despite the commentary surrounding Pearl’s exit, she has nothing but positive things to say about the show.

“To the show that lifted and carried me for three years . . . The people who tuned in and gave us so much love. SABC1 for believing in me. Crew and producers for creating such an amazing work experience. I could never thank you enough,” Pearl wrote on social media.

She added that even though leaving Live AMP was very difficult for her, change is inevitable and she had to let go. – TimesLive/Channel24.