Basketmouth’s Rape Jokes, Uti Nwachukwu’s Misogyny, and the Case of Accountability Catching Up With Nigerian Celebrities
The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS (EU in Nigeria) recently announced its ambassadors for its Sexual and Gender Based Violence campaign. Among these ambassadors were celebrities like the comedian Basketmouth and actor/model, Uti Nwachukwu.
Following this announcement, complete with a picture of the lineup on twitter, there was an instant backlash from feminist voices like the director of The Equality Hub, Pamela Adie and Plus TV Africa’s The Advocate host, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf, all of whom called out the injustice of making an ambassador out of Basketmouth on issues regarding sexual violence, when the comedian is well known for the rape jokes he has made in the past.
We need to know how Bright(Basketmouth), a man that said openly that Nigerian women should be RAPED if they don't give have sex with men on the 2nd date is an advocate influencer for SGBV??@europeanunion__ #16ddaysofactivism #Notobasketmouth #HerStoryOurStory @sisiogelagos pic.twitter.com/DeDPC9azS5
— Pamela Adie (@biwomdz) November 26, 2019
The joke was in 2014. In a veiled apology in an interview with a blog, Basketmouth said; "Humour has No limit"
So can @EU_Commission in Nigeria explain to Nigerian survivors, if such a person would be made an SGBV advocate in an EU country? @KadariaAhmed https://t.co/CPqVsFpqTn
— Ireti Bakare-Yusuf @NoMore234ng (@sisiogelagos) November 26, 2019
@EUinNigeria @ngBritish @HerStoryOSNG Rape isn't something to make a comedy or joke out of. Rape should never be trivialized. Kevin Hart came under attack for homophobic slurs. Rape jokes aren't any different. https://t.co/eTwl5jZlBh
— AVOICE4US (@avoice4_us) November 27, 2019
So the multi-sectional funds donated for the 16 days campaign was used to hire a rape apologist @basket_mouth .
What are the other donors saying about this @UKinNigeria @UN_Women @Nwankpa_A @ChidiOdinkalu @naijadesires @sisiogelagos @ayosogunro @aeolofintuade https://t.co/3Q99yyoffQ
— NigerianFeministForum?? (@NFF2008) November 27, 2019
Following a career that has been salted with a number of standup comedy on rape jokes, in 2014, Basketmouth came under fire on social media after he posted a joke about the difference between dating “white girls” and “African girls.” According to him, white women put out after a couple of dates, but African women keep holding out, so on the ninth date, a bit of rape is required.
Most Nigerians and other African commentators reacted to the joke with outrage, and the backlash was so furious that Basketmouth eventually made a halfhearted attempt at an apology, where he claimed that he was trying to shed light on an important social issue.
“I would never in a thousand lifetimes encourage rape,” he said. “I broadcasted a joke that many clearly misunderstood and have found offensive and I sincerely apologise, the intention however was to highlight an unfortunate trend and the ridiculously flawed comparison between money and the worth of a woman.”
This apology would’ve probably made sense, except the comedian was filmed on 2019’s Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy talking about how the rape joke helped him sell his tickets.
The idea of someone with such an enabling history on sexual violence now assuming the role of a spokesperson for Sexual and Gender Based Violence was very icky. So icky that the social media outrage persisted until the EU quietly removed the comedian from its lineup, releasing another photo of its ambassadors. And no statement.
This of course didn’t go unnoticed, and drew the ire of Twitter netizens, who were quick to point out the flaw in the European Union not taking the time to investigate the histories of the people who they choose to name as ambassadors for such an important campaign.
So the @EUinNigeria reissued this e-flyer of its influencers. They removed the rape apologist @basket_mouth . Sad they reissued on the down low with no statement. Missed an opportunity to control the narrative. Others should learn#16days #16DaysofFeministActivism pic.twitter.com/omoSfVUhJG
— NigerianFeministForum?? (@NFF2008) November 30, 2019
By @EUinNigeria quietly removing #BasketMouth from the @HerStoryOSNG campaign, and remaining silent, they missed an opportunity to clear the air and control the narrative. They also missed the opportunity to send a strong message against rape and people who joke about it.
— Pamela Adie (@biwomdz) November 30, 2019
A flaw that was further emphasized after they did release a statement – only for more twitter receipts to emerge that pointed at the unfitness of yet another ambassador: Uti Nwachukwu. Past tweets showed the actor’s body-shaming attacks on women and insensitive amusement over the heated exchange in the now-infamous Tacha-Mercy fight in the concluded Big Brother Naija season.
@SirUTI is not in the best position to be an influencer against women abuse, as he has been seen as a bully and abuser of said women
— Your Fav Artgirl?(GangstaTitan) (@folawunmi_gal) November 30, 2019
— Favourite Girl (@Favourite_Grl) November 30, 2019
More of Sir Utis tweets from as far back as 2016 pic.twitter.com/t5mBENIZvg
— Dee?????????? (@diasteah) November 30, 2019
Please am begging you @EUinNigeria because I am a woman @SirUTI can not speak for us. With all due respect he body shame and disrespect woman how can we listen to him after all he has don or rather what do will expect from him, he is among the abusers
— Gift?? (@Gift18632954) November 30, 2019
We women wish that @SirUTI not be included in this project reasons being that,he severally used his platform as a public figure to make mockery of women,body shamed women,used vulgar language on women without any retaliations from such victims. Pls @EUinNigeria kindly note this.
— ??Kim Na Na??WizkidIsMine (@DonyuoS) November 30, 2019
@SirUTI Abusing a woman that her vagina stinks and can't give birth to anything useful and laughing out loud about it pic.twitter.com/HXzVMFgYiI
— Dee?????????? (@diasteah) November 30, 2019
The EU is yet to react to this latest development, and when it does, hopefully it would be in a manner that further underlines this budding trend of accountability that is so foreign for Nigerian celebrities. In times past, whereas the Kevin Harts of the American entertainment industry and the Seyi Omoobas of the UK entertainment industry are swiftly held accountable for their past discriminatory missteps, Nigerian celebrities, with all the power they have, generally get away with the most insensitive and prejudicial material masked as entertainment. Just last year, a clip surfaced of the comedian AY fostering homophobia and violence against people with same sex orientation, and despite the outrage that this video caused, the comedian never once apologized for the discrimination he targeted at LGBT people.
According to @AYCOMEDIAN
1. Homosexuality is something you can stop. (As if those who are still gay in the face of Nigeria's furious homophobia are just being disobedient.)
2. One should stop being homosexual because God doesn't approve of it. (Because… https://t.co/XAYHcapG90 pic.twitter.com/E0Pjcyh35T— ♉Pink Panther♉ (@kito_diaries) July 24, 2018
In the same vein, other celebrities such as Gideon Okeke run rampant with their homophobic views all over the social media, a luxury that their Western counterparts could never indulge because of the understanding that such insensitivities come with consequences that impact on their livelihood. Instead, over here, rape jokes, misogynistic views and homophobic opinions are endorsed, appreciated and even protected by the public, largely because those vices are our way of life. (During the furor surrounding Basketmouth’s rape joke, his fans came out to fight back with the insistence that those who were offended were just being over sensitive. Even now, with the emergence of Uti Nwachukwu’s misogyny, there are those who are calling the aggrieved voices haters.)
We’re funny people. Someone is faceing the due consequences of their words, some will say they’re being “brought down”. How will we become better people & society if there’s no accountability for being reckless with words & actions? Do you want progress or not? #orangetheworld
— Pamela Adie (@biwomdz) November 30, 2019
Accountability means nothing to most Nigerians. It's why we are where we are as a nation.
People are always too quick to stupidly forgive, completely forgetting that forgiveness comes with taking the responsibility of the wrong done and mitigating its effects.
— Precious Oraz (@ThE_MiTcHsTeR) November 30, 2019
This is great. They tell rape jokes in Nigeria and want recognition abroad. Fuck that. Thank you for holding him accountable https://t.co/8tqVqUBMVd
— Panda (@Rimzzzeee) November 29, 2019
Nigeria has a history of condoning bad behaviour. And so, the further the world contracts into a global village, hopefully more missed opportunities like this that impact their livelihood will impress on Nigerian celebrities the importance of using their forums and voices to advance kinder outlooks on humanity instead of furthering callous discrimination.
Or at least, make them to be more circumspect with the opinions they put out in public.
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23 Comments
Francis
December 01, 07:17Drag them oh ?????
I don’t think UTI matter carry weight sha. Shebi all is fair when you are fighting and you want to cause serious damage? ?
Mitch
December 01, 07:49I was low-key wondering when Uti’s case would be tackled. I must have missed the tweets on that. I’m just glad that a few Nigerians are starting to understand that accountability is a thing. And have begun to hold, not just celebrities, but other people accountable for their words and actions.
PS: I’m low-key waiting for the day AY’s matter will blow up. Na me go dey front lines to drag him destiny.
Hilary
December 04, 10:37I swear down!!! He needs to be put in his place and be dragged the hell out . such audacity! I’m right behind you Mitch.
Williams
December 01, 08:09Kudos to Pamela Adie.
Great advocacy.
Colossus
December 01, 08:53This is good. Nigerian comedians rely heavily on rape jokes, homophobia, discrimination against the disabled and other appalling “jokes”. Its time they know there are consequences for their words
Kabbiz
December 01, 09:25Quite detailed. Frankly, I like the fact that Nigerian celebrities are being held seriously accountable when the time comes.
If they can’t show their support for a set of people (or marginalized persons), they should keep their cool and not enable whatever culture that’s against those persons.
I believe that this is just the beginning.
Persimmon
December 01, 09:45Uti may not be perfect, but his own is clearly a victimization from Tachas supporters… Their level of toxicity is sickening.
Pink Panther
December 01, 10:28Are you serious? His own is a victimization from Tacha’s supporters? Really???
Illiana
December 01, 10:51Are you even normal at all, or you are too blind to see the hateful comments he made especially to female
Don’t be stupid
Max
December 01, 11:39So disappointed with Uti. You’d think a sister would know better.
Malik
December 03, 16:23???????? ?
D
December 01, 11:40My God! A.Y is so vile, and look at all those people laughing as if there is not a gay person in their midst.
This is why I never welcome these jokes from most Nigerian comedians, their insensitivity is sickening.
Beryl04
December 01, 15:53AY will never get away with this. Either he’s dragged here one day or while out there in the world, he’ll be dragged in the mud for this.
We wait…
Victor
December 01, 22:15What amazes me about AY is the awful lack of emotions he has, to make fun of his brother’s sexuality.
Fave
December 02, 00:10The Ignorant Stereotype of every effeminate boy being gay is just bleeeer. We don’t need this energy in 2020..
Teni
December 02, 06:21Finally Nigerians are waking up,???? next stop, our ignorant politicians
Kelvin
December 02, 07:07I oncedar schooled my elder siblings on this rape, homophobic jokes being made by nigeRian comedians and I introduced them to Trevor Noah (thank goodness his show was airing at that moment on dstv) they enjoyed his jokes and no form of discrimination was made on marginalised people. They agreed to this and said Nigerian comedians should try better with their lame jokes.
Tristan
December 02, 18:51AY is so dumb.
Leon
May 20, 19:01That useless biatch bottomless pit gay AY ur time is coming, and soon!!!
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