On Saturday night, after Nigerian singer Aramide won the Headies for Best Alternative Song, comedian Victor Ebiye remarked on Instagram that she must have had a sexual relationship with someone to have emerged the winner.
His comment triggered a backlash on social media, as he was called out by men and women alike, who defended Aramide, at a time when men have been accused of verbally trolling and physically and sexually assaulting women.
@theayoadums wrote: “Ebiye’s comment about Aramide is just tasteless. Some men are so insecure. They can’t stand a successful woman without attaching her success to prostitution”.
“Aramide may not be popular in mainstream media but she is definitely a hardworking and super talented artist. Ebiye’s comments are wrong and doesn’t represent popular opinion”, said @Rouvafe
Ebiye’s comment came in the wake of the trending hashtag #MenAreScum. He has further heightened the gender war, although some men have distanced themselves in an attempt to refute claims suggesting all men are offensive.
@jackdre said “all the men on my timeline are chastising Ebiye. That means we are acknowledging that he was very wrong. Please don’t include all men”.
@WoleOdeleye: “I’m glad he was called out by men and women alike. I don’t think the intention was to turn it into a gender war but to use it as an example of what women go through everyday. I don’t know of any successful woman who has not been accused in the same manner”.
@UmehOma: “Ebiye’s comment does not represent that of men in general. He was way out of line and deserves any backlash he gets”.
The “Iwo Nikan” Afro-soul artiste has been married since 2015.
Aramide received support from actress and wife of Banky W Adesua Etomi as well as Big Brother Naija housemate Leo DaSilva.
@AdesuaEtomi: “Aramide let nothing ruin this moment for you. Congratulations. You work so hard and you deserve every good thing that comes your way”.
A remorseful Victor Ebiye later apologised for his comments on his social medium platform that boasts over one hundred and fifty thousand followers.
He wrote: “I made a distasteful joke about Aramide last night at the Headies. I am embarrassed by my comments, I’m profusely sorry. Aramide is a hardworking artist who deserves every recognition she gets by merit. I sincerely apologise and pledge that such will not repeat itself”.(NAN)