By Charles Maduka
Controversial Nigerian artist Speed Darlington has apologised following public outrage sparked by a video in which he appeared to admit to sleeping with a 15-year-old girl. He later claimed the video was a stunt aimed at promoting his new music release.
The video, which quickly spread across social media, featured the singer recounting a disturbing incident with a teenage girl. His comments drew widespread condemnation and demands for legal action.
Responding to the criticism, Speed Darlington released another video on Instagram stating that the initial clip was not a true confession but a marketing strategy.
“I am an artist. I need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not getting booked. Nobody is booking something that is not trending,” he said. “I have a new song now. When I dropped my song, I needed content to push it. That is what I was doing. If any of you are offended, it’s alright. Apologies.”
Government agencies have since responded. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, along with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, have both indicated they are investigating the incident.
This is not the first time the artist has found himself in a controversy involving underage girls. In 2022, he clashed with a neighbour who accused him of acting inappropriately toward a 16-year-old. The altercation was live-streamed, with Speed Darlington seen holding a knife while confronting two women outside his home.
In 2023, he again made headlines after stating his intention to find a second girlfriend aged between 16 and 20, claiming he would travel to a village after a performance to search for one and bring her back to Lagos.
The repeated nature of these incidents has drawn serious concern from the public and authorities alike, as many question the ethics behind using provocative or potentially criminal claims to drive online engagement.
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