2019 has been a great year filled with so much news, drama, saga, outpour and unleashing of talents, fights, endorsements, great content from the music and movies industry as well as the Nigerian polity.
Amidst all of these, there are some people and situation that never went a whole week without being in the news or talked about. If not for a saga they are engaging in with another person, it surely is something happening to them or what they say or do.
From Tonto Dikeh’s marriage failure, Tacha and Mercy’s reign in and out of the BBNaija house, Bobrisky’s botched birthday party and Naira Marley’s arrest and vibes, we bring you 5 most controversial and most talked-about celebrities and influencers of 2019 in no particular order. Before we go on, let us all @ KOKO be the first to wish you Happy New Year! We are excited you stayed with us through the journey of this ending year, we so appreciate you. Let’s do better together in the coming year. See you in 2020.
So, let’s get to it!
1. Naira Marley: Naira Marley is a popular Nigerian singer, songwriter, performer, well known for his hit track Issa Goal. Naira Marley was born in Agege Lagos State, Nigeria but later moved to Peckham, South London when he was only 11-years-old. In his childhood, Naira Marley had ambition of becoming an MC and Voice Over artiste but turned out to be a singer. He churned out hit songs like Soapy, Opotoyi, Mafo, Ogologo, Japa, Owo Osu, Jogor, Marlian Riddim and more which had kept him in the news constantly. His controversial views and no manners themed also gave him more popularity, including his fraud case which got EFCC to arrest him. To end the year, the singer held his Naira Marley Fest yesterday night and today, he is bee given an ultimatum to appear in court for a car theft charge levelled against him afresh. This of course, is keeping him on the mouths of Nigerians till the new year. Naira Marley, who is KOKO’s 2019 Person Of The Year is said to be married to two women and has four children who are all residing in the United Kingdom.
2. Tonto Dikeh: The Nollywood actress is usually in the news for her sexy snaps, controversial comments about life, rich Instagram lifestyle and his love and support for Nigerian crossdress Bobrisky. Something bigger, however, came her way this year as her marriage to businessman Olakunle Churchill crashed and led to a dirty drag of each of the couple on social media. Tonto Diekh accused his estranged husband of being a yahoo boy, a charm user and above all, a 40-second man. She also got into fights at different points in the year with her ex-bestie and colleague Rosaline Meurer, who allegedly is dating her estranged husband, and a couple of other influencers, bloggers and celebrities.
Read also: The Top 10 Biggest Albums In Nigeria For 2019
3. Bobrisky: Nigerian male barbie was always churning out controversial statements which helped him stay relevant in the year, like his best friend and mentor Tonto Dikeh. The socialite kept sharing cute pictures though, doing giveaways for fans and engaging in fights at different points, all of which he brought to social media. One of his huge fights was with fashion mogul Toyin Lawani who reportedly broke ties with him for stealing her creams, mixing hypo with them and selling out to people. Out of the controversial things she churned out this year is that she ovulates, menstruates and her expensive lifestyle. She and Tonto Dikeh have got each other’s back over the year, fighting each other’s battles and celebrating each other’s successes.
4. Tacha: Natacha Akide had first become popular after she got Davido’s image tattooed in between her breasts which she always flaunted on Instagram. She gained more fame when she got on the reality show Big Brother Nigeria and her ill and unaccommodating attitude in the house proclaimed her more. This led her getting into fighst with nearly all of her co-housemates. During one of such fights (with Jackye) came a big blow of her disgusting body odour which hit her and her fans worldwide. This got her humiliated by the Nigerian social media and the more she got humiliated, the more popular she got. Her fight with Mercy got her disqualified from the show and since her return, she had had more fan base, supporters and lovers. The fact that she sent out an apology letter for her ill attitude in the house when she got out made people love her more and her fan base grew larger. From endorsements, homecoming, tours to meet and greet and all, the 23-year-old has been having the best of her life. She never goes a day since she left the BBNaija house without trending on the streets of Twitter, with her fans and Mercy’s attacking each other.
5. Mercy Eke: The record-breaker herself got noticed in the BBNaija house for her big backside and her love escapade with a co-housemate Ike Onyema. She seemed focused and her fashion style made people like her more, coupled with the unceasing flaunt of her backside. She had broken the record as the first female winner of the reality TV show and since then, she has been in the news almost every day, but not as much as Tacha. Her fans and Mercy’s are always at each other’s throats making comparisons of who has the biggest deals, largest fan base, biggest fan’s presence at a meet and greet or homecoming party and many more.
