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Adekunle Gold has revealed that he secretly hoped Beyoncé’s team would reject “Simile”, a song he wrote for her “The Lion King: The Gift” project in 2019.
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The singer wrote the deeply personal song while grieving the death of his father and later felt it was too personal to give away.
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After the song was rejected, it remained unreleased for years before being completed and included on his sixth studio album, “Fuji”.
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Gold also spoke about protecting his daughter from online abuse and misinformation after taking legal action against an X user over false claims about his family.
September 10, (THEWILL) – Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that he secretly hoped Beyoncé would reject a song he wrote for her “The Lion King: The Gift” project in 2019.
Gold shared the story during a recent appearance on the One54 Podcast, where he reflected on the difficult period that inspired the song, “Simile”. He had just lost his father when Beyoncé’s team reached out to him to submit a song for the project.
The opportunity initially excited Gold because Beyoncé is an artist he greatly admires. However, his father’s death left him struggling to return to music.
“I just lost interest”, Gold said. His manager continued to encourage him to return to his home studio and try to create something before the deadline.
Gold eventually wrote “Simile”, a Yoruba word meaning “rest on me” or “lean on me”. But after recording the song, he realised how personal it was.
“It felt too personal that I didn’t want Beyoncé to have it”, he said. Although he submitted the song, he admitted that he was secretly hoping Beyoncé’s team would not select it.
Gold said he submitted the song late, and it was ultimately not chosen for “The Lion King: The Gift”. Instead of being disappointed, he felt relieved that he could keep the song.
Watch the video here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdFmUaVuFdz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The song eventually became part of “Fuji”, Gold’s sixth studio album, released on October 3, 2025. The 15-track project draws from Yoruba musical traditions and blends Fuji, apala, tungba and Afrobeats.
Gold’s story about “Simile” is not the first time he has spoken about writing for Beyoncé. He previously shared details of the song’s origin while promoting “Fuji”, describing it as one of the most personal records on the album.
During the podcast appearance, the singer also spoke about his family and the challenges of dealing with misinformation online.
Gold said he is prepared to deal with criticism directed at him because he chose a public career, but he draws the line when his daughter is involved.
“I can take anything talking about me all day. I’m cool, I signed up for this, not my daughter,” he said.
His comments follow a major legal victory against an X (formerly Twitter) user who spread a false death hoax involving his daughter. In May 2026, a Federal High Court in Lagos found the user guilty of cyberbullying, cyberthreats and cyberharassment, resulting in a prison sentence.
Gold said he deliberately chose to let the authorities handle the matter rather than respond aggressively. He also condemned the spread of fake news online, including separate rumours that he and his wife, Simi, had secretly welcomed twins.
The singer said public figures must deal with the rumours that come with fame, but their children should not be dragged into them.
For Gold, the experience has reinforced his decision to protect his daughter from the pressures that come with his public life.
Watch the video here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdFwPYWt8zJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
