Portable, Nkechi Blessing, Wizkid… controversial celebrities of 2022

Controversy has remained an integral part of the showbiz industry. Like other years, 2022 was filled with too many debatable moments involving celebrities.

TheCable Lifestyle examines the most controversial celebrities in Nigeria for the outgoing year.

Portable

Why always Portable? The singer’s controversial personality has been crucial to his surging popularity and he demonstrated that again in 2022.

From being accused of impregnating a lady to saying he is ready to snatch people’s wives, Portable started the year with a series of feisty dramas.

In January, he made the headlines over his face-off with Kogbagidi, the show promoter, and his visit to Kenya. His claim of possessing charm and alleged death threats also left tongues wagging.

The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner also came under fire after he was disqualified by the Headies for threatening to kill the winner of his categories at the 2022 edition of the award.

He was also invited by the police in Ogun state for leading his team to brutalising a man. Following Portable’s seemingly intolerable actions, Ossai Success, the aide to Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, had suggested he should undergo rehabilitation.

But the musician is not one who is easily moved by people’s perceptions.

In the build-up to the Osun state guber election, Portable was also in the news. From flaunting money made to calling out Davido, and his critics, and also mocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), the singer ensured a lot of attention was on him.

Portable got a lot of stick for claiming he founded ‘Ajah Boys’ and ‘One Million Boys’ cult groups, prompting an order for a probe by Usman Alkali Baba, the inspector-general of police (IGP).

If the singer’s involvement in controversies is a script, then it worked out well in 2022. It has not only brought him more fame but also endorsement deals.

Nkechi Blessing

Nkechi Blessing is another celebrity whose penchant for controversy knows no bounds. In 2022, the actress was always in the media spotlight due to her messy split from Opeyemi Falegan. From tirades of insults to Blessing’s “lesbian” declaration, the pair fought occasionally on social media.

But beyond her heated clash with Falegan, Blessing is not short of “controversial content”.

The actress made the headlines when she confronted a suspected thug allegedly trying to disrupt the shooting of ‘Martha Omoluabi’, her movie.

She was also at the receiving end of intense backlash for sharing dildos as souvenirs at her mother’s death anniversary celebration.

Yul Edochie

Yul Edochie enjoys being talked about. It is therefore not surprising that he made this list. Edochie started 2022 with conversations around his presidential ambition.

Then, he stunned many of his fans when he unveiled Judy Austin, the actress, as his second wife. It was a defining moment in the actor’s life and he savoured the buzz that came with it.

Yul’s marriage to Judy also reawakened conversations around polygamy and attracted a wave of reactions from May Aligwe, his first wife, and several other celebrities like Victoria Inyama, and Daddy Freeze.

In spite of the backlash, the actor justified his action.

Yul was also tongue lashed for his comment on the sex scandal involving Apostle Johnson Suleman.

Tonto Dikeh

There is no doubt that Tonto Dikeh is one of the most popular Nollywood actresses. But in 2022, controversies and scandals were the sources of her enormous presence in the spotlight.

The film star was in the news over her renewed feud with Prince Kpokpogri, her ex-lover. She also engaged in separate confrontations with Ada Karl, Bobrisky, and Kemi Olunloyo, the journalist.

Dikeh stunned many of her fans and critics when she announced her nomination as the running mate to the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers state.

Wizkid

Wizkid kicked off the year on the low after he lost both categories he was nominated for at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

He was also in the public eye over his rumoured affair with Osas Ighodaro, the actress.

For a man known mostly for his low social media activity, his silence at the time did not come as surprise to many.

But as the year rolled by, the singer showed a slightly different side of himself after he bragged about his wealth, unfollowed everyone on Instagram, and claimed to be single.

The music star then stirred up the hornet’s nest when he said rap music is “boring and dead“.

Blaqbonez, Uche Ogbodo, Oladips, and MI Abaga, were among the celebrities who reacted to the singer’s controversial remark.

Wizkid again provoked the anger of his fans in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire after he failed to show up for paid concerts.