Blaqbonez in love: Are artistes now realising the toxicity of social media?

The infidelity of social media to reality is making entertainers put a line between their public and private lives.

The PR stunt Blaqbonez pulled for his sold-out show at Muri Okunola, Lagos, further strengthened the argument of his acclaimed 2021 album, Sex over love. The title alone suggests that the artiste born Emeka Akumefule expressed his preference for sex over love and that he surely did across 14 tracks, putting the spotlight on his own emotional struggles.

Being a music star with a legion of followers, many took his ‘sermon’ to heart, and his Valentine's crusade show, Breaking the bondage of love, made even many more take him seriously that he is an advocate of pleasure over mushy feelings.

Imagine the shock on the faces of his fans when only one week after the show they discover that their sex commander has a girl who has his attention, who goes out with him, whom he loves and dotes on.

Emeka The Stallion 🐎 @BlaqBonez

Love is beautiful when you find the right one. it feels wrong to continue to hide you from the world cos last year when i lost my brother no one else was there for me but you @galowthebaddie 🥺❤️

“Comrade, no be so them dey do life” were the words on the lips of those who came across the tweet of the 26-year-old singer on Sunday, 20th February.

JÓNÅD @iamjonado

@BlaqBonez @galowthebaddie Comrade no be you just organize church program preaching against love 😭??

Others scoffed, “believe social media at your own peril.”

Celebrities separating matters of the heart from their art

While Emeka’s internet-breaking revelation has continued to gather reactions, the emergence of one pattern appears to be solidifying – more celebrities are separating their private life from the public scrutiny of their art.

In an age where social media appears to be the final destination of happenings in an individual’s life, it has become commonplace to summarise a person’s life by merely going through their posts online. Celebrities are even flogged harder with every of their step subjected to intense scrutiny as sensitive private issues become slapped on blogs and tabloids all over.

It then becomes more understandable why Kemi Adetiba announced her engagement weeks after it happened, Adesua announcing the arrival of her baby after several months and Adejare Kosoko’s face not made public until after about a year. I mean, we only read about the wedding in print, save for one or two pictures that were posted on Adejare’s parents’ anniversary.

Even though social media following has now become a currency that people spend to constantly be in the trends, there is a growing conservative school of thought that keeps its private life private.

The tendency of social media users to blow issues out of proportion has made many label it as toxic. Narratives get twisted, sentiments cloud judgments and truth is suppressed by popularity.

Notably, celebrities who used to be carefree are now starting families and embracing parenthood. But then, it’s social media. Without itchy fingers, timelines would be boring and there’d be no vawulence to feast our eyes on.

What I’ve been listening to

Asa has got fans drowning in her Ocean as her fifth studio album, V, drops today! I’m looking forward to that collaboration with Wizkid. It’s something we had been praying for.

On my playlist, you’ll also find Reminisce’s Hustle with Buju Bnxn and D Smoke, Olamide and Wande Coal’s Hate me and Asake’s addictive Omo ope. Asake is one of 2022’s newcomers. I don’t need to tell you to watch out for him.