Mentewab's relationship with the much younger nephew of her late husband was considered a great scandal, and the young Prince was derisively referred to as "Melmal Iyasu", or "Iyasu the Kept".
A relación de Mentewab sun sobriño moito máis novo do seu anterior marido foi considerada un grande escándalo, e o novo príncipe burleiramente era chamado "Melmal Iyasu" ou "Iyasu o Mantido".