By Vanessa Obioha
Take it or leave it, celebrities have a way of shaping timelines in pop culture, oftentimes going through controversial routes. The 2000s were distinct with the marital infidelities of afrobeats singer 2 Baba. This news sent ripples across the entertainment realm and beyond and, to date, serves as a reference point to similar occurrences. Away from matters of infidelity, superstar sibling duo P-Square sent shockwaves after they announced their disbandment. In what started as a rumour and was later confirmed by them, the disbandment had music critics theorising possible reasons for falling out while fans and music lovers had their moods dampened. In entertainment, controversy and drama are a continuum. And it doesn’t matter the crowd it attracts, be it a niche following or trending on a national and global scale. In the past six months, Nigerians have witnessed some memorable controversial moments that will have us talking for years to come. In no particular order, we look at the dramas that shocked and left us speechless in the first half of the year.
Tems the Official Oscar View Blocker
Just being present at this year’s Oscar was a win in itself for Tems following her nomination for penning ‘Lift Me Up’, as performed by Bajan singer Rihanna for the sophomore ‘Black Panther’ movie.
Immaculate on the red carpet in her white rose-inspired gown with a high slit, she charmed the paparazzi and viewers who tuned in for the red carpet ceremony.
However, things turned for the worse when she sat for the event that evening. Tems’ once elegant ensemble quickly morphed into a view blocker that had global audiences talking, with so many saying she was inconsiderate of those sitting behind her. She ultimately became an internet meme after the Oscars.
Hilda Baci, Guinness World Record, and the Wannabes
It took Hilda Baci, a Nigerian foodpreneur and TV producer, six years to prepare and attempt to break the longest cook-a-thon, which she achieved in under 98 hours. With this record attempt, she inspired dozens of Nigerians who sought fame to embark on the same journey without following the requisite steps.
This has led to all sorts of record-breaking attempts that include cook-a-thons and hair-a-thons, with the latest being a case of Massage-a-thon, where the masseuse, Joyce Ijeoma, attempted to break a 72-hour record. She collapsed at the 50th hour. Also, a scheduled three-day kissing marathon was banned by the Ekiti State government recently.
Banky W And Davido’s Baby Mama Drama
Within a week, both Banky W and Davido were rumoured to have impregnated women other than their spouses. Banky was alleged by a popular online gossip platform to have impregnated singer Niyola, who formerly was signed to his record label, EME Records.
Banky later addressed the situation at the Waterbrooks Church, saying it was all rumours orchestrated by satanic elements. He and his wife have since shown support for each other through various Instagram posts.
On the other hand, singer Davido made the news rounds recently after US-based lady Anita called him out on social media to announce that she got knocked up by him and his refusal to support her.
Iyabo Ojo at Loggerheads with
LIRS
Arriving in a regal, fiery dress only befitting Maleficent, Nigerian actress Iyabo Ojo stunned Nigerians with the announcement of her N37 million dress at this year’s AMVCA.
Weeks after her extravagant outing, her war with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service started. She was given a seven-day ultimatum to pay over N18 million in taxes accrued in 2021 and 2022. In her rebuttal, she explained that the taxes were not correctly calculated and further showed proof of her earlier payment in a video published on Instagram.
Seun Kuti Assaulting a Police Officer
One of the sons of late afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti, in May, assaulted a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge. The singer takes after his father’s footsteps in activism, so his actions came as a surprise to many who judiciously followed the story.
He voluntarily provided himself for detention at State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, and was later released on bail. The application to arraign him was also dismissed by a magistrate court.
