The story of Wizkid’s rise from grass to grace parallels Linda Ikeji’s own story in so many ways its almost eerie. Both from lower middle-class backgrounds, they struggled in their respective hustles until they became celebrated and courted by local and international brands for endorsements and advertisements.
It was therefore a shock to many when Linda Ikeji called out Wizkid on her blog after a social media war fueled by her gossip led to a falling out between the two.
The facts of the case are public knowledge now, however one thing that strikes out to the discerning observer after even a cursory look at social media chatter is the fact that Wizkid seems to have been forgiven by majority of Nigerians whilst the jury is still out on the integrity of Linda Ikeji concerning her rants, actions and outbursts.
In trying to “end Wizkid’s career” as she boasted, Linda Ikeji may have only succeeded in making many Nigerians doubt the integrity of her own career.
The Banana Island based blogger had threatened to end Wizkid’s career but it seems it may be her own career that is headed towards the cliffs. And it was all done by her hand.
Wizkid is one of those Shitta boys who doesn’t take nonsense from anybody, so when news of his baby mama drama became mainstream thanks to Linda Ikeji, the Starboy was so enraged, he was not having itmay have spoken out of turn. He struck out, and many people admire him for this. Some of these same people, even celebrities like Caroline Danjuma, Femi Kuti, Toni Payne have called out Linda Ikeji for publishing false stories about them, or malicious gossip that has ended their marriages or negatively affected their lives in one way or the other. They feel Wizkid stood up for them by taking Linda to the cleaners.
Many social media commentators have called Linda Ikeji petty, arrogant and a hypocrite for some of her recent rants when she was called out by Wizkid and fans over an alleged fake Birkin bag. Indeed her reactions to both incidents when the tables are turned against her seems like she is more able to be on the giving than the receiving end.
Dr. Mike Oshoke, a professor of English, said, “It’s funny she wants Wizkid to lose her endorsements but what of the brands like GTBank, AXA MAnsard, Wema Bank, MTN and all the other brands that advertise with Linda Ikeji’s blog, a platform accessible to children, that openly celebrates gay culture, men’s penis sizes, nude photos and all other forms of erotica alien to the traditional African cultural landscape.”
Across social media, many people are now calling Linda Ikeji a bully and a pretender who is quite happy to profit of the personal and social misfortunes of others but has great difficulty being scrutinized herself.
What is most surprising is the fact that a lot of this commentary happens to be coming from other young Nigerian women at home and in the diaspora.
Here are a cross section of comments from a report on Linda’s latest essay on the Wizkid debacle:
I don’t think Linda is the best person to stand up against women shaming and VAW, She is soo guilty of supporting stuff like that as long as it brings traffic to her blog. She got what she deserved.
OMG!
I just can’t with Linda,what’s this?? your primary school?is this a competition to see who comes out tops. Linda you need to see someone,this is not an insult..you need to talk to a counsellor,for real.
This petty behavior is not acceptable from a grown woman like you!
This woman here needs lessons in humility sharpish!!!!! And I wouldn’t usually say this but if she was in a serious relationship with a man who truly cared for her we won’t hear be hearing her sound like a bat. This year alone she’s been trending for all the wrong reasons. Nne e don do na. Shebi you call Genny your role model. Emulate her social graces please!!!
LINDA BIKO GET OUT OF HERE!!!! Ahhhhh what is all these jare. You talk too much! Wizkid only posted a picture, with the caption police is your friend. I don’t know why it is getting your blood boiling. Actually they cant arrest him for a threat! You cant even sue him for a threat. An undertaking can be signed and that’s it. Leave the boy alone abeg. Trying so hard to ruin him. You would ruin yourself before you ruin him. Please swerve biko. Ogini di? You behave like you re not stable mentally sometimes. Let it be. Whether his lawyers begged you or not is none of our business. Gosh! Lady I think you should take sometime off. The sagas involving you lately are all pointers of an impending mental break down. Go use your money for your health, see a therapist other than use them to buy fake/real bags.
I agree. She is a few sneezes short of a mental breakdown.
Her arrogance was oozing out from her post. Linda pls take a chill pill and stop feeling like you run the world .
The arrogance that oozes out of Linda though? Good grief! She really needs a beatdown by a woman I hope so there won’t be violence against women rant.
I used to be indifferent to Linda Ikeji before but now I’m beginning to dislike her. Her account is definitely a skewed version of what happened at the Police HQ. All she has told us in what Wizkid was told, how Wizkid begged, what Wizkid signed.
What about her? So they didn’t tell her nada
Can she stop forming “Defender of Women” before Wizzy shades her into the blackness
This woman! All wizkid did was post a picture o and you got riled up to release another epistle. You want to show so badly that you won, that you’re bigger, you had to lay emphasis on the begging, Haba! Hold your family close cos that’s all you’ll have in your cold and lonely years, even your sister no put mouth this time, you’re alone, nobody needs a friend or even an enemy like you . Incorrigible woman.
Has the number of viewers to her site decreased significantly to warrant such pettiness and ignorance? I never understand why some cannot understand that one cannot actively exploit the shortcomings of others and expect a positive reaction. This has nothing to do with violence against women; its simply about her reaping the results of gossiping. What did Linda expect from him when she posted the story? , “thank you aunty linda” yeah right! He’s wrong in his reaction but she threw the first blow. You cannot control how anyone can react to things. She needs to be mindful of what she writes and presents to the public. She has gained notoriety as the expense of gossiping on the private matters of many and now is running and crying foul…..Maybe when shes sued and charged for printing callous material, she’ll learn finally… She drags the pettiness with ” oh they begged and apologized” Who wouldn’t ? anyone with common sense who wants to avoid legal stress would too !! Hope she got the traffic numbers she wanted with this one ……..
The comments on this blog and many other blogs show that Linda Ikeji isnot enjoying the same kind of support she usually enjoys when she goes on a rant against a situation or person.
Pulse.ng columnist, Jola Sotubo, in a new piece entitled, Linda Ikeji is no longer an inspiration, says, “Linda Ikeji’s fame and wealth have increased in great proportions over the past five years, but she has wasted so many opportunities to make real impact that I wonder if her good fortune has taught her anything.
The only thing Linda seems to have acquired with her position is money, possessions and a growing sense of vanity.“
This article by Zikoko.com entitled How Linda Ikeji Became A Fierce Feminist is also of Note.
At the end of the day, it will serve Linda Ikeji well, if she is to take a step back and re-evaluate the way she goes after issues. She has openly said she will not gossip about her friends, and that is why she doesn’t like to make new friends. That is a statement unbecoming of someone who is a professional who wants to continue to be taken seriously. If she wants to dish out dirt, then she should do so in all circumstanced and develop a sense of integrity with fair and unbiased gossip.