We are getting to the latter part of 2015 and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for entertainers to get much needed buzz. And as it’s known that desperate times call for desperate measures, they employ all sorts of ‘Publicity Stunts’ to get the attention of the media and the public for their careers and projects.
In recent times, the Nigerian entertainment terrain has witnessed a number of remarkable ‘Publicity Stunts’ and we thought to refresh your memory with 4 of the most-talked about stunts in the last 3 years. Here we go…
- The K-Solo and Kikelomo ‘Wife Battery Stunt’
In 2012, one of the most reported entertainment stories was the K-Solo and Kikelomo marriage break-up. The music producer had been accused by his wife Kikelomo of wife battery, assault and theft. With the story spiralling out of control, the couple granted an interview with Channels TV in August 2012 where they both said the marriage crisis had been a ‘Publicity Stunt’ all along and they enjoyed every bit of it.
In reality though, it looks like the foundation of dissolution had been laid as the marriage finally crashed a few weeks after.
2. Toke Makinwa’s ‘Pre-wedding Break-up Stunt’
In December 2013, news broke that popular OAP, Toke Makinwa’s decade-old relationship with Maje Ayida had crashed. A few weeks later, in January 2014, the couple held a secret wedding proving that the break-up tale was a PR stunt to divert attention away from their wedding.
18 months later, the marriage officially crashed with tales of Maje Ayida impregnating his ex girlfriend and life has not been the same for both of them.
3. The Psquare ‘Break-Up Stunt’
In 2014, fans of Africa’s leading pop duo, Psquare were brought to the brink of tears when news of their imminent break up rented the air. It all seemed irreversible as the famous pop stars seemed bent on going their separate ways until their publicist, Bayo Adetu granted an interview, saying: ‘It was all a Publicity Stunt’.
4. The Skiibii ‘Death Stunt’
This is perhaps the mother of all publicity stunts as far as the Nigerian Entertainment setting is concerned. Everything seemed normal on Friday, August 14, 2015 until reports of Skiibii’s death took over every strata of traditional and new media. The 23- years old rising act signed to the Five Star Music Group, reportedly slumped and died in his living room.
The news was later found out to be a ‘publicity stunt’ aimed at the promotion of his latest single, ‘Sampu’ as Skiibii ‘rose from the dead’ a few hours later although his handlers have offered contrary interpretations.
