TNG Special Report: 7 controversies that rocked social media in 2020

2020 has undoubtedly been an eventful year in the Nigerian entertainment industry and social media space.

Apart from the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the usually boisterous sector, some Nigerian celebrities hugged the headlines for the wrong reasons.

In no particular order, TheNewsGuru takes a look at the controversies that rocked social media 2020

BurnaBoy and Jopearl

Though the ‘African Giant’ star, Burna Boy won a lot of awards in 2020, however he was called out by a lady (Jopearl), who claimed that she was in a relationship with the singer at about the same time the star and a British rapper, Stefflon Don, started dating.

Jopearl claimed that her relationship with Burna Boy lasted for about two years, adding that she decided to break her silence as her resolve to keep it a secret had continued to trouble her.

Davido

Davido stirred controversy in the course of the year when he called himself the biggest artiste in Nigeria during an interview. The ‘Jowo’ crooner said:“I’m the biggest artiste in Nigeria. The facts are there. In terms of everything, I’m the biggest,” he boasted.

Wizkid

Many were amazed when Wizkid attacked his colleague, Reekado Banks, for planning the release of their collaborative single amid the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in Nigeria.

Reekado Banks had opened up on the release date of the single he recorded with Wizkid in a tweet. Banks had written, “Out of control ‘gbedu’ must drop. This one with my brother @wizkidayo. ‘Omo Olomo’ midnight dropping. Still on the matter! #EndSARS #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality”.

An angry Wizkid however called Banks a fool and‘clout animal’

“Delete this, dude. Can’t believe you’re doing this at a time like this. Old song. #EndSARS fool,” Wizkid stated, though he later deleted the tweet.

Etinosa and Apostle Johnson Suleman

Nigerian actress,Etinosa Idemudia in the course of the year slammed Johnson Suleman, general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, for calling out people who bleach their skin.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, the cleric had condemned those who engage in bleaching, noting such people are endangering their lives.

“Can I give you a counsel as a boy and a girl, don’t bleach. Listen, bleaching has no end. Anything that moves from the original colour has no end,” he had said during his sermon.

But reacting on her social media page, the actress who recently welcomed a baby girl on Christmas day, dismissed the pastor’s message, saying there is no link between bleaching and the kingdom of God.

“There’s no relationship between bleaching and kingdom of God so my uncle Suleiman go and rest. Especially when Your side piece is one of us – bleaching gang member,” she wrote on Instagram.

Paul Enenche and Daddy Freeze

Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Paul Enenche, a senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), in the course of the year described Daddy Freeze, a radio personality, as a “mad dog” for attempting to pull down clergymen who have “built values for themselves over the years.”

In a viral video from one of the services held in his church, David Ibiyeomie, a pastor of Salvation Ministries, had threatened to kill the broadcaster over his critical stance of David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of Living Faith Church.

Ibiyeomie’s attack on Daddy Freeze sparked different reactions on social media.

In his reaction, Enenche took a shot at the radio personality’s moral upbringing while also referring to him as an attention-seeking “bipolar patient”.

Naira Marley

Social media was agog earlier in the year when ‘Mafo’ singer, Naira Marley was convicted and fined, the sum of N200,000 for flouting the COVID-19 guidelines.

The ‘Soapy’ crooner was charged with four counts of violating interstate travel ban, not using a facemask, breaking the social distancing order, and attending a concert breaching the COVID-19 restriction directive on physical gathering.

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Rahama Sadau backless gown saga

Sadau’s backless gown saga was also another unforgettable controversy that rocked social media in 2020.

The Kannywood damsel got tongues wagging on social media when she shared pictures of herself wearing a backless gown.

In the photos, the role interpreter posed in a tight-fitted pink gown that exposed her skin from her neck down to the upper section of her waist.

Her dress choice didn’t go down well with a number of her conservative Muslim fans, some of whom quickly condemned her as having committed “haram”, an act that is forbidden by Islamic law.

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