In today’s social media world, nothing truly disappears. Old tweets, interviews, pictures and careless jokes can resurface years later, especially when a celebrity is at the peak of their career. For many Nigerian stars, the past has shown up uninvited and it has not always been kind.

For Nigerian music star Simi, what began as a call to speak against sexual violence quickly turned into a moment where she had to answer for her own past words.

It started in mid-February, when a young lady named Mirabel shared a video on TikTok alleging sexual assault. Many people showed sympathy and called for justice. Simi also went on X to speak up.

She wrote: “I’m sickkk of this. STOP RAPING WOMEN. They need to castrate rapists and burn them.”

Some people agreed with her anger. Others felt her words were too harsh. When some users argued with her, she replied, “Stfu.”

That short response made things worse, people began to drag her and started searching through her old tweets; tweets from 2012 were brought back online. One of them said, “David has a crush on me… Should I give him a chance? P.S He’s 4.”

At the time it was likely meant as a joke, but many people saw it differently years later. Critics said it was inappropriate. Supporters said it was an old harmless joke.

Simi later addressed the issue, she explained that the tweets were from many years ago and that she has grown since then. She said people should not twist her past to create a false story about her character.

She is not the only one who faced this; her husband, Adekunle Gold, who is also a Nigerian artiste, has also had old tweets resurface in the past.

When celebrities become big, people often search for things they once said, sometimes to hold them accountable, sometimes just to drag them.

Another is Ezra Olubi, the co-founder and former CTO of Paystack. His story trended online because old tweets he posted many years ago resurfaced during a sexual misconduct controversy.

The scandal involving Ezra Olubi started with a personal dispute that quickly grew into one of the biggest online controversies in Nigeria’s tech world.

It all began in November 2025, when someone claimed that Olubi had behaved inappropriately toward a subordinate. This allegation immediately caught the attention of social media users, and the story started spreading fast on X.

Before the sexual misconduct claim went viral, there was already a personal tension between Olubi and someone who owed him money.
According to online discussions, it was this person who first started digging through Olubi’s old social media posts. The idea was allegedly to find dirt or leverage over him because of the debt dispute.

They found old tweets he made between 2009 and 2013. The tweets, many of which were sexually explicit, raised many questions. Some of the posts that circulated widely included:

“Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”

“I judge my female friends by the sound their pee make. Thanks to the audio recorder in my bathroom.”

“Save water. Take a bath with your neighbour’s daughter.”

“On a lighter note, I hear sex wit a minor cures HIV. So my +ve followers, help yourselves. Ur neighbour’s daughter isn’t looking bad today”

For many, these posts were not just jokes, they were a glimpse into attitudes and behaviour that seemed completely unacceptable, especially from someone in a high-profile position like Olubi, co-founder of Paystack.

Some users wrote:

“If this is what he tweeted years ago, imagine what could have happened behind closed doors.”

“This is why people say the internet never forgets. Your past can always catch up with you.”

The public outrage became so loud that Paystack stepped in, deciding to suspend Olubi from his role as Chief Technology Officer, saying it was taking the allegations seriously and that a proper investigation would follow.

Olubi later deactivated his X account, but by then, the screenshots had already spread across blogs, and Instagram.

A disagreement over money may have been the spark, but the fuel was Olubi’s old tweets and the sensitive nature of the allegation. In a matter of days, a private conflict became a nationwide conversation about ethics, accountability, and the power of social media.

Another instance of burden of the past was the old Tweets from BNXN (formerly Buju), before he rose to fame. BNXN used Twitter like many young people did, as a diary and a space to share everything on his mind.

Back then, life was tough on him, in 2016 and the years that followed. He tweeted about how hard things were, even jokingly begging for food and airtime, including spaghetti and shawarma.

Later, after he became a successful singer with hit tracks and collaborations, those old posts resurfaced online. People began sharing screenshots and laughing at the tweets they once ignored.
One of the most shared screenshots showed the young BNXN joking about being hungry and in need of a meal:

“Guy I’m crying, una owe me spaghetti for this, I love you.” — Benson (@BNXN)

His early tweets weren’t just about food, he also tweeted about airtime struggles, he wrote:

“Good morning everyone except Diamond Bank, y’all did me dirty. I had only ₦1,000 in that account, y’all debited ₦100.”

Fans also found posts where he begged for small help online, including airtime, shawarma and cash, shared over time as he struggled before fame.

After these resurfaced, BNXN responded with humility and reflection, turning what some called embarrassing into something inspirational:
BNXN’s Responded to His Old Tweets and said:

“I hope you draw some sort of inspiration aside from the comedy from all this. I went after every dream I had and overcame. You can too. Believe. ” — Benson (@BNXN)

“All I feel is gratitude to God almighty. Una no go fit fully understand… Twitter really was my diary at some point.” — Benson (@BNXN)

This story is a reminder that in today’s world, your online past never truly disappears. Even posts from more than a decade ago can resurface and change the way people see you, especially if you hold a position of influence.

The truth is simple: when you are famous, your old mistakes become public property.

“Stardom and the burden of the past” is a story about accountability and forgiveness. Celebrities are public figures, but they are also human beings who grow and change. The challenge is learning how to hold people accountable while still allowing them to become better than they were before.

It also presents a challenge to celebrities who came from humble backgrounds, or may have been controversial in the past; as the fame grows, celebrities must go back in time to clean up past errors before they become material for public discourse.

It is important to note that indeed, some celebrities need to make full recompense for past antisocial behaviour, especially the kind that suggest participation in sexual abuse, or gender-based violence; such celebrities must be made to feel the full weight of the law, no matter how long it has been since the offence was committed.

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Social media platforms reward engagement and nothing drives engagement like conflict. Platforms like X (formerly twitter), Instagram, and Tiktok have become battle grounds. Fan wars trend, not necessarily because they are important, but because they are intense, and intensity keeps people scrolling.

In today’s entertainment, online communities form around celebrities like musicians, actors, influencers, defending them at all costs. In Nigeria, supporters of stars like Wizkid and Davido regularly clash online over awards, streaming numbers, and global recognition.

For over a decade, Wizkid and Davido have stood at the forefront of Afrobeats’ global rise, their hits dominate charts, their concerts sell out arenas, and their names open international doors.

Wizkid’s brand is often associated with calm confidence, and global cool while Davido’s image radiates energy, accessibility, and loud celebration.

For many young Nigerians, being “FC” (Wizkid FC) or “30BG” (Davido’s 30 Billion Gang) is more than a casual preference; it is identity, some people have it on their Profile bios, display pictures and all.

The two Nigerian artistes rose at nearly the same time, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun popularly known as wizkid, gained prominence in 2010 and David Adedeji Adeleke widely known as Davido in 2011. Both were destined to lead Nigeria’s Afrobeats revolution. For a while they were friends, and it played nice.

The spark that ignited a decade-long rift came in July 2014; Wizkid had an electrifying performance in New York and he tweeted on X: “ Proper show, Proper Venues”. The internet erupted, because Davido had just finished his New York concert series, and fans immediately interpreted this a diss.

Wizkid later denied the shade in a 2016 interview, claiming he was venting about poor sound systems at a previous show. Davido, however was not buying it, insisting in his own interview that the tweet was absolutely about him.

In 2017, the cold war heated up dramatically, when Davido featured on Olamide’s “Summer Body” and dropped bars that seemed aimed at wizkid; “with yankee passport dem say we local, you better catch up I’ll see you later.”

Wizkid clapped back when he tweeted: “My people make una remember to say Yankee passport no be baba blue, e no dey cure frog voice”. A savage reference to Davido’s American citizenship and singing voice that sent shockwaves through X. But words were not enough, their fans clashed physically at the One Music fest in Dubai.

In 2018, Davido revealed during another interview that they had settled their ‘beef’ after things “got physical between our fans.” They even performed at each other’s concerts that year, giving fans hope, but the peace was temporary.

Then came Wizkid in 2020 after the release of his acclaimed “Made In Lagos” album; he ignored Davido’s congratulatory post while acknowledging other artists, which looked like a deliberate snub that reignited the tensions online.

The feud reached its ugliest point in April 2024 when Wizkid posted a video of Davido crying and begging on his knees, mocking fans who were asking for new music. Davido fired back, calling Wizkid a “sick man” and challenging him to drop a solo track. Wizkid responded that he could retire today and Davido would still have nothing on him.

Most recently, in October 2024, Wizkid called Davido “wack” with “no talent” after Davido teased new music, proving that even after a decade, the rift as not been settled. Davido admitted in a 2023 interview that fan bases fuel most of the issues between them with Wizkid FC and 30BG, their respective armies, turning every minor slight into a declaration of war.

Sources suggest Davido’s absence from Wizkid mother’s burial deeply hurt him, while tensions with mutual connections like Tiwa Savage have added fuel.

Fan wars were once harmless rivalry, but today they often blur the line between passion and aggression. The ongoing tension between Wizkid and Davido shows how quickly admiration can turn into hostility when supporters choose conflict over celebration.

Music is meant to connect people, not divide them. True support uplifts an artiste without tearing another down. If loyalty becomes violent, then it stops being love, and starts becoming the problem.

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Remember when their names were on every lip? When every show wanted them, every brand chased after them, and money flowed like water? Those were the golden years when being fame felt like it would last forever.

So many entertainers that spend their years of fame ‘living large’, wearing Designer clothes, driving expensive cars, throwing elaborate parties, living luxurious lifestyles, and spending recklessly. They believe the money would keep coming from different gigs they get, but the Entertainment industry comes with different twists, changing trends, new new faces, and the attention starts to reduce.

The reality for most entertainers is tough; unlike regular jobs with pension and retirement benefits, entertainers have nothing to fall back on when the years of fame end, the income stops, the brand endorsement deals reduce, and the event organizers stop calling.

It is common to see veteran actors who once ruled Nollywood screens struggle to survive when the fame ends; musicians whose songs got massive airplay struggling to cover medical expenses when the fame ends; comedians who filled stadiums, now performing at small venues for little survival.

We have also heard stories online of actors who beg on social media to pay hospital bills, musicians appealing to their loyal fans for financial support, and influencers whose brands have collapsed resorting to menial jobs to keep body and soul together. We have seen examples like:

I. Hanks Anuku who was famous for his villain and action roles. After health and personal struggles, he was spotted looking mentally derailed on the street, and this sparked strong debates on social media. His presence in Nollywood significantly declined, and he is now rarely cast in new productions.

II. Victor Olaotan was a Nigerian actor best known for his leading role in the soap opera Tinsel in the year 2013. He struggled with medical bills after his accident.

III. Babatunde Omidina was a Nigerian actor and comedian popularly known as Baba Suwe. He also fought a public battle with illness and financial difficulties before his death.

We also have some Nigerian artistes who are no longer in the limelight or who are struggling to remain in our faces:

I. Akinmayokun Awodumila, known as May D, formerly with Square Records; May D had big hits like “Soundtrack” and “Ile Ijo”. After leaving the label linked to P-Square, his momentum dropped and he hasn’t regained his earlier dominance.

II. Yaqub Jubril known as YQ was popular around 2010–2012 with songs like “I Like Girls”. He had club bangers but slowly disappeared from mainstream playlists as new Afrobeats acts emerged.

III. Morihanfen Oluwaseun Oluwabamidele, known by his stage name as Sean Tizzle, dropped massive hits like “Sho Lee” and “Mama Eh”. After leaving his label, his visibility reduced and newer artists overtook the scene.

IV. Sauce Kid aka Sinzu was a respected rapper in the late 2000s. Legal troubles and relocation abroad slowed his career, and he never fully returned to mainstream dominance.

But not every story is sad, some of these entertainers anticipated evolution in the creative industry and they prepared for it.

Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) is an old actor who has managed to stay relevant, still thriving, having smartly maintained his brand and adapt his presence in the industry.

Funke Akindele didn’t just act movies she became a producer and built a business empire.

Banky W transitioned into politics and business.

Don Jazzy evolved from being just an artist to record label mogul.

The truth remains that entertainment is unpredictable. It is instructive for current entertainers to try to plan for the future, invest wisely, and live within reasonable means. Famous artistes must understand that impressing people who do not care about their future will leave them helpless in the end.

Entertainers must build backups while they still can. Fame is fleeting and there will always be a time when a former ‘hot’ artiste becomes an ‘old taker’, the income stops flowing, and life starts to ask very difficult questions.

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• Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe Professionally known as Ayra Starr a Nigerian singer and songwriter, who officially joined Mavin Records on January 21, 2021, when she was unveiled by label boss Don Jazzy. She was signed to the label in 2020 after being discovered on Instagram, and her self-titled debut EP was subsequently released on January 22, 2021, and its lead single “away”, which spent two consecutive weeks at number 4 on Nigeria’s Turn Table Top 50 chart; the song also peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top Thriller Global Chart. It was followed by the release of her debut studio album titled 19 & Dangerous in 2021.
• Folarin Temiloluwa Odunlami, Nigerian singer-songwriter and Afrobeats artist known professionally known as Fola pondis, signed a recording contract with Bella Shmurda’s record label, Dangbana Republik, on October 11, 2024. Following this, he released his debut EP titled ‘What a feeling’ in December of that same year. Since joining the record label he has collaborated with big artistes like, Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Zlatan, BNXN, and the record label boss, Bella Shurmda.
• Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma profesionally known as Qing madi, a Nigerian singer-songwriter and a dancer. She is signed to Columbia Records, working with Bu Vision & Jton Music Publisher, though she previously had deals with Richiemusic Emipire in 2021 but left. Qing Madi gained widespread recognition after her 2022 single “See Finish” and its 2023 follow-up, “Ole”, featuring BNXN

The list continues, including many more artistes who are successful. But behind the fame and the red carpets, not every deal is what it appears to be. For some, the contract that promised stardom comes with private pains – low royalties, limited creative freedom, and obligations that can feel more like chains than opportunities. For every artist who rises to global acclaim, there’s another struggling under the weight of a deal that did not serve them.

This is the reality of record deals – a blessing to some, and a trap for others. And as the music industry evolves, with streaming, independent releases, and social media platforms leveling the playing field, the question becomes more urgent than ever: is signing a record deal truly the path to success, or is it a gamble that could cost more than it gives?

The Blessing: When a Record Deal Changes Everything

For many young artistes, a record deal is more than just a contract, it’s the launchpad that transforms a dream into reality.

Imagine spending months recording songs in a small bedroom studio, struggling to pay for beats, mixing, or promotion. Then, suddenly, a label steps in, offering financial backing, access to professional producers, and a platform to share your music with the world.

The benefits are undeniable. Labels provide artistes with resources that are otherwise out of reach like marketing teams, social media strategists, and video directors. This network doesn’t just amplify the music, it builds a brand. A single well-promoted song can skyrocket an unknown artist into the public consciousness.

Moreover, record deals offer credibility. Being signed sends a signal to the industry, and to the fans. Being signed gives opportunities such as collaborations with established artists, endorsements, and sold-out shows which often come more easily with a label’s backing.

Examples of Popular Nigerian Record labels are Mavins by Don jazzy, YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop) by Olamide, DMW (Davido Music Worldwide), Alapomeji Ancestral Records by 9ice, Star boy Entertainment by Wizkid, among others.

The Trap: When a Record Deal Becomes a Cage

Not every story is a fairy tale. For some artistes, a record deal can quickly shift from a blessing to a burden. Many contracts are complex and heavily favor the label. Low royalties, loss of ownership over music, and long-term obligations can leave artists trapped, unable to freely release new songs or fully benefit from their own work.

Some deals include repayment clauses, where the upfront money given to the artist, must be paid back from future earnings. This means that even if a song becomes a hit, the artist may see very little profit. Creative control can also become a battlefield.

The music industry is littered with stories of talent lost to restrictive contracts. Artists who once dreamed of fame find themselves negotiating exits, fighting over rights, or struggling under the pressure to constantly produce hits. In these cases, the record deal feels less like a springboard and more like a cage.

Examples of some young Nigerian Artistes that terminated their deals with the record labels are:

• Mohbad (formerly of Marlian Records)

Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly known as Mohbad officially terminated his contract after claiming the label did not pay him royalties and failed to fulfill agreed terms of their 2019 agreement.

He accused the label crew of physical attacks and said his request to change his manager (who was related to the label boss) was met with violence. After his exit, his public disputes drew widespread attention to how young artists can struggle with record label terms.

Mohbad’s situation became controversial because of how public and messy the conflict was, and because of his untimely death.

• Lyta (formerly associated with YBNL Nation)

Babatunde Rahim known as Lyta was never formally signed with a written contract, according to Olamide, but he was promoted as part of the YBNL “family”.

He left in 2019 because he wanted to release music more frequently and didn’t want to wait for the label’s promotion schedule. Lyta also reportedly wanted better opportunities and a more active release strategy than what he felt the label was offering.

Finding the Balance: Is It Worth It?

The truth is, a record deal is neither inherently good nor bad. It’s a tool, how it affects an artistes depends on the terms, the support system, and the artiste’s knowledge of the industry. Some succeed brilliantly under a label, while others flourish independently, using social media, streaming platforms, and Do it yourself (DIY) promotion to reach audiences on their own terms.

For young aspiring artists, the lesson is clear – research, read contracts carefully, and understand your worth before signing. A record deal can be a blessing if approached strategically, but without preparation, it can quickly become a trap.

In the end, the journey of music is personal, and success can take many forms, sometimes with a label, sometimes without a label. What matters most is that the artistes retain control of their passion, their sound, and their dreams.

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