Tosin Clegg
Nollywood Actor, Mike Godson made news recently after an X account user tweeted a controversial post that he got AfroPop Singer and Global Music Sensation, Yemi Alade pregnant.
The post shared: “Nigerian Nollywood, Actor Mike Godson has opened up to the media saying he is responsible for the child Yemi alade is carrying. She is expecting a child.”
As soon as this got out it kicked off sparks of reactions among fans but wasn’t so fuelled as neither parties engaged the speculation at its earlier stage.
Not too long after this, Mike Godson responded clearly stating that, “People mistake my silence for weakness. Some years ago, Linda Ikeji put out a false narrative about me, misleading the public, saying I was expecting twins with an American woman, knowing full well the legal implications of such false allegations, but I let that slide. And now, my attention has been drawn to this. Why do people just create problems for themselves ? What kind of human beings are these?
Ok, we shall see.”
Alade on the other hand has remained quiet and not said anything about the alleged statement. Rumours such as this aren’t a new thing in the industry. Many times it emerges out of a drive to get engagement by the accounts that post them, a strategy to draw media attention or just rumors.
Sequel to this Alade has also faced some rumors against her personality. Sometimes in March an X account user spoke about her being diagnosed with a particular illness which seemed to want to end her career but as it gained traction for the account it held no grounds. Following this up is another post that was shared just recently on X around the same time the pregnancy rumour birthed.
The user shared: “Nigerian Afrobeat star and music sensation Yemi alade has reportedly announced on her instagram that she’s HIV positive following her recent absence from social media.”
She futher explained that she has been fighting the disease for months after sleeping with so many bosses to revive her career and now she can’t even remember who gave her the disease.
And yet still, Yemi Alade remains quiet, focused on her craft and poised towards her musical engagements. Sadly the use of social media by certain persons has now evolved into negative deployment of rumors for engagement especially on the X platform. Ever since the birth of payment for verified users and what is required on the social network to get paid many have pushed different narratives, rumors and agendas just to gain traction overlooking the damaging effects it could have.
This growing trend has contributed to a culture where virality is prioritised over responsibility, with little regard for the emotional, reputational, and societal damage such misinformation can cause. From celebrities and public figures to ordinary individuals, many have found themselves victims of unfounded rumours amplified for clicks and engagement. While social media remains a powerful tool for communication and information sharing, the misuse of these platforms for profit-driven misinformation continues to raise serious concerns about digital ethics and accountability.
This rumors only shows the desperation of some individuals who are into gaining tractions. Mike Godson, Yemi Alade and many others are humans and even as the latter didn’t react doesn’t mean she might not have wanted to but responding sometimes can even spark more unforeseen consequences. As much as regulations can play a role in downplaying this situation there is a need for accountability as this if overlooked could evolve into more damning situations.
Leave a comment