A religious debate has erupted online after influencer and entrepreneur Sasha Ellese, the ex-girlfriend of rapper Krept, posted a series of strongly worded messages on Snapchat about her Christian beliefs and views on other religions. The posts, which addressed Islam specifically, have drawn significant backlash from Muslim communities and beyond, reigniting conversations about faith, respect and expression on public platforms.

The initial controversy began when Sasha responded to a follower’s comment that criticised her interpretation of Christianity and the way she addressed Islam. The follower had written:

“This interpretation is offensive and not supported by credible scholars. Muslims respect Jesus and the Bible, please show the same respect in return.”

Sasha responded with:

“I will never respect a false God who is sending people to hell, I respect the people who believe enough to let you know the God you serve is false, many Muslims are living righteous lives and have a heart for God. But it’s the wrong one. If you don’t agree, just ignore my post I’m not debating anyone.”

Shortly after Sasha’s initial remarks went viral, Krept posted a picture of their daughter, Nala, wearing a black hijab and smiling. The timing of the post led many to believe it was a subtle yet direct response to Sasha’s comments. His snap was widely praised for its calm tone and for reinforcing his own Islamic faith in contrast to the heated nature of Sasha’s posts.

Following the backlash, Sasha posted further comments in an attempt to clarify her stance. She wrote:

“The way some Muslims feel when I say what I say is how I feel when ‘Jesus is just a prophet, he didn’t die on the cross and he isn’t God.’ is said. Throwing your toys out of the pram isn’t going to change my beliefs or stop me from spreading the truth. Telling the truth sets people free."

She continues,

"I am not islamophobic, that is silly, but I’m also not going to be forced to make an apology for standing boldly on what I believe. I am a work in progress and so execution could be better, more context to explain my faith and beliefs would work better so it didn’t feel like exclusion to Islam alone. Because I believe this about every religion, every single religion and way of being that doesn’t follow Christ.”

Krept, whose real name is Casyo Johnson, and Sasha Ellese dated for around three years before publicly announcing their split in early 2021. They share a daughter, Nala, who was born in June 2020. Despite the breakup, the two have continued to co-parent and often speak respectfully of one another. Sasha has built a lifestyle brand around motherhood, notably launching “Nala’s Baby”, a skincare line that quickly gained traction among parents and influencers alike.

Since the breakup, Sasha has become more vocal about her Christian faith, sharing sermons, scripture and devotionals with her audience. This increased openness has occasionally stirred controversy, with some accusing her of using faith to pass judgment on others.

Krept, one half of the UK rap duo Krept and Konan, is a practising Muslim. He has been open about his faith and regularly shares religious content during Ramadan and Eid. He has also posted his daughter wearing a hijab on several occasions, often accompanied by messages of gratitude and reflection, showing that Islamic values play a role in her upbringing.

In the aftermath of Sasha Ellese’s remarks and Krept’s subtle response via Snapchat, social media users flooded comment sections with strong opinions, many of which criticised Sasha’s decision to speak so openly and controversially about Islam, especially given her personal circumstances.

One user wrote,
“She needs to just stay super quiet on this one. Especially knowing that the father of her first child is Muslim. Plus, this is the same girl that wants to live a ‘holy life’ but had another child out of marriage.”

Another echoed similar sentiments, posting,
“Didn’t stop you laying down with Muslim men did it babe?”

Some comments were directed at Krept as well, with one follower advising,
“Choose your baby mother wisely. Mindset over lust.”

Others used the moment as a cautionary tale, reflecting on their own values and choices. One person commented,
“Another reminder why I can’t have kids out of marriage. Please God, let that never be my story.”

Sasha’s comments appear rooted in her growing Christian convictions, but her phrasing, particularly in stating that she would “never respect a false God”, sparked accusations of religious intolerance. She insists she is critiquing belief systems and not people themselves, and later suggested that she could have communicated her views with more sensitivity and context. Meanwhile, Krept’s low-key but meaningful post, featuring his daughter in a hijab, was widely interpreted as a dignified counter-narrative.