#IdleCelebs: Fighting dirty, new pass-time for Nigerian artists

In recent times, the trend of fighting dirty on social media has become a tempting trend among celebrities on the Nigerian entertainment scene who now use numerous social media platforms available to vent their spleen at whoever takes a shade at them.

Findings reveal that one of the reasons why Nigerian celebs have been caught up in the tempting allure which has seen them turn social media into a boxing ring is the fact that they can sit and hide behind their computer, tablet or mobile phone to fire back at any out of context quote by a fellow celebrity made in reference to them in just 150 characters.

But come to think of it, celebrities are all about controversies, shade throwing, hitting back at their fans who drop rude comments at them and dirty fighting which actually is part of their marketing strategy.

A well worked-out social media squabble can get a forgotten celebrity back in the headlines and fans all of a sudden remember they exist despite not releasing a new hit song or landing a major acting role for years.

In the last six months, the Nigerian social media space has had it own fair share of such melodrama by idle and sometimes misguided celebs who wash their dirty linen in public allowing fans and news hounds to feast on the aftermath of their most times pre-planned social media outbursts.

Below are five major social media feuds that made headlines and probably got some of the main actors involved regretting taking the option in the first place.

Don Jazzy Vs Olamide

This feud is considered as one of the most high profile beefs in the music industry and it played out at the last Headies staged on the 1st of January 2016 when Olamide came on stage to spill his guts in support of his protégé Lil Kesh didn’t emerge winner of the hotly contested Next Rated category of the awards.

The prestigious category which sees the winner going home with a brand new Hyundai car had nominees such as Reekado Banks, Kiss Daniel, Cynthia Morgan, Korede Bello and Lil’ Kesh.

Mavin act, Reekado Banks eventually emerged winner in the category but many especially on Twitter thought YBNL’s Lil Kesh deserved the award.

After the announcement was made, Olamide obviously didn’t like the eventuality and when he had the opportunity to come on stage with his crew, he thundered saying; “This award belongs to Lil Kesh. Lil Kesh is our own Next Rated artist. F**k that s**t! The streets ti take over.

“Every f**king single was a hit back to back. From ‘lyrically’ to ‘Shoki’ to ‘Efejoku’. Ko ni dafun Iya anybody”, tossing away the microphone as he walked off the stage with his crew.

But the war of words didn’t end there, Mavin honcho Don Jazzy made the face-off official when he came on stage to receive his recognition award saying; “Egbon Olamide, If you want the car, come and collect it.”

After the awards, Olamide decided to take the fight to Twitter and in the process dragged in scores of his fans who showed solidarity by firing invectives at Don Jazzy and his crew.

Suffice to say that, Olamide who hadn’t been an active user of Twitter got more followers and his outburst trended on social media.

But on realising his mistake following his rant on Live TV at the Headies, Olamide apologised for his conduct a day later when he took to his Instagram page to tender his apology.

A peace accord was also said to have been worked out by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote who called both Don Jazzy and Olamide to order.

Davido Vs Dele Momodu

This feud turned out to be one of the longest melodrama on social media in recent times involving the child trafficking allegations levelled against ‘Dami Duro’ crooner, Davido and his family.

Trouble started when Sophie Momodu (Davido’s babymama) wrote a petition after discovering that her child was to be flown to Dubai without her consent for Intensive Medicals by Coco Adeleke (Davido’s elder sister) who was in custody of the child at the time.

Backed by her uncle, Dele Momodu, Sophie petitioned the Adeleke’s in a letter through her lawyer addressed to the Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) accusing Davido and his family members of “attempted child trafficking and abduction” of Miss Aurora Imade Adeleke (Davido’s daughter).

The feud became even more messier when Davido released a laboratory result stating that his daughter had to be flown abroad due exposure to second hand smoking and cannabis infected breast milk administered by Sophie.

Following the allegations levelled against Sophie by Davido, Dele Momodu came out in defence of his niece days after on Twitter when his expressed his displeasure in a tweet saying the allegations against Sophie was the limit of recklessness and rascality.

But after accusations and counter accusations, both families decided to sheath their swords over the issue.

After a meeting held at the instance of the National Agency For the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) attended by Sophie, Davido’s father, Deji Adeleke, Mr. and Mrs. Dele Momodu, Adeleke’s lawyer, counsel to Dele Momodu, Gbolaga Ajayi, Mr. Ajayi Famakinwa, and NAPTIP’s representatives the saga was settled.

During the peace meeting which lasted for hours, both parties decided to end the squabble amicably and a call was made to stop the media war. Both families were also mandated to sign an agreement to end the war of words.

The Adeleke’s were also advised to allow Sophie have access to her daughter, Imade.

Wizkid Vs Dammy Krane

The trend continued when Hypertek Records artist, Dammy Krane accused his colleague, Wizkid of song theft.

The artist alleged that Wizkid, stole some songs from him and has also been trying to intimidate him with it the stolen tracks. He claimed in a post that Wizkid has stolen from him on numerous occasions, which has made him consider physically assaulting the Starboy honcho.

“I have a problem with fake ass people, I always try and be real and let things go but I will address something first!“ Last year my brother got robbed and was beaten to death in America, I have a problem with thieves and people who try to intimidate others.

“This industry ni*** has been trying it for a while. Stole a couple of my stuff but I didn’t talk…..

“Wizkid is a b**** ni***, I was about to loose it and f*** him up but they even had to beg me,no time to form, I am the streets!!” He tweeted.

The pair also chose to take the feud off social media when they came face-to-face at an exclusive ‘All Black Party’ staged at Club Quilox by Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins.

Wizkid allegedly went physical on Dammy Krane for his accusations of song theft. Eyewitnesses say Wizkid attacked Dammy Krane first and allegedly broke a bottle on his head before they were separated by bouncers.

The owner of the club, Shina Peller later waded into the matter as he ushered both artists into his office where the beef was settled.

A peace meeting was also arranged by Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins who called on both acts to end the fight which left Dammy Krane with a bloodied head.

Blackface Vs 2face

Days after accusing Wizkid of trying to bring him down and suggesting that Wizkid’s hit song, titled Ojuelegba, sounds the same as the track 13 on one of his dancehall albums released as far back as 2010, ex-Plantaishun Boiz member, Blackface, accused his former band-mate, 2face of stealing his song, titled ‘Let Somebody Love You’ which interestingly was the first single off the sixth studio album of 2face titled ‘The Ascension’.

The dancehall act disclosed that much on his twitter handle, @Blackfacenaija while also hinting on his readiness to go to court to seek redress.

When asked about allegations of song theft levelled against him in a interview he granted Channels TV, 2face said; ”My brother it’s just so unfortunate. I don’t know where it is coming from. I’m trying to think of different reasons. I thought maybe his account was hacked or something. Apparently it wasn’t hacked, so we’ll trash the whole matter.. but I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him and it’s just so unfortunate that he’s coming at me like that.”

Recall in the past that Blackface also claimed that he originally wrote the song ‘African Queen’ which literarilly brought 2face global acclaim at the time the song was released.

P Square: Peter Vs Jude and Paul Okoye

Peter Okoye set social media abuzz days ago when he fired his elder brother Jude Okoye who runs Northside Entertainment on Twitter citing a lack of structure and irreconcilable differences.

In his tweet, Peter decried the poor managerial style of his brother who has been managing their affairs musically for some time now while also warning anyone who cared to listen not to conduct business with Jude on behalf of P Square.

“Fans I know Y’all have been asking a lot of question concerning us. I don’t have a problem with Paul but with the Management. My Loyalty to P Square and the fans still remains 100% . A manager is been employed by artiste not the other way round”. Peter tweeted.

Hours after Peter announced his sack, Jude replied his younger brother on Twitter saying it is obvious that he (Peter) has been going through tough times recently and as he put it “only God could rescue him”.

The brewing beef between the Okoye brothers later took and interesting dimension when one-half of the duo- Paul took sides with Jude after the unilateral sacking by Peter.

In his reaction on Instagram, Paul posted a picture of himself and Jude while declaring his support for his elder brother with the caption: “This is where I belong and this is where I stand… You do music in the studio and not on social media, you have family issues, you discuss that behind closed doors, not on social media… Family is family, blood is blood… If you don’t do family business then who am I to you?

But on realising his mistake and seeing that he had been outnumbered, Peter apologised for bringing the misunderstanding into public domain in a tweet he posted two days after his outburst

“I am not perfect, I make mistakes, and it hurts people. But when I say sorry, I mean it. I am so sorry for my actions. I sincerely apologise,” Peter tweeted.

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