Fans and Activists Criticize Grammy Winner for Allegedly Instigating Colleague’s Detention
Nigerian music star Burna Boy has come under fire after allegedly instigating the arrest of fellow artist Darlington Okoye, better known as Speed Darlington, over claims of defamation and cyberstalking. The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with critics accusing Burna Boy of contradicting the anti-oppression message often present in his music.
The controversy erupted when Speed Darlington, known for his outspoken personality, posted a viral video mocking Burna Boy’s ties with American rapper and producer Diddy, who has recently faced multiple legal charges. In the video, Speed Darlington questioned Burna Boy’s Grammy win for his album Twice As Tall, which was co-produced by Diddy and Burna Boy’s mother, Bose Ogulu. The remarks appeared to upset Burna Boy, leading him to file a petition against Speed Darlington, which resulted in the latter’s arrest last Friday.
Speed Darlington’s detention did not sit well with many fans, who voiced their disappointment with Burna Boy. Social media activist, Verydarkman (VDM), expressed his dismay, urging Burna Boy to handle the situation civilly. “Burna Boy, you are not an oppressor, sue the guy and handle it as a civil case,” VDM said, emphasizing that while freedom of speech should be respected, there are legal avenues to address defamation without resorting to arrests.
The situation escalated after Speed Darlington’s mother posted a video online, accusing Burna Boy of orchestrating her son’s arrest. In response, Burna Boy took to X (formerly Twitter) with a cryptic message, “Who’s missing?”—a tweet that further fueled speculations that he was involved in the arrest.
Speed Darlington was released on Tuesday night after meeting bail conditions, with help from activist Mr. Adeyanju, who intervened on his behalf. Despite his release, the incident has sparked a wider conversation about the use of legal power to silence critics and whether Burna Boy’s actions contradict his public persona as an advocate for justice and equality.
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