Controversial YouTuber, DJ, and content creator Honour Zuma, better known as Cyan Boujee, has spoken out about the heavy toll the Russia Alabuga Start Programme controversy took on her life, career, and relationship.
Speaking in a candid interview on the L-Tido Podcast, Cyan admitted that signing up to promote the programme—marketed earlier this year as a “unique opportunity” for women aged 18 to 22—was one of her biggest regrets. The campaign quickly drew backlash amid suspicions it was linked to human trafficking.
“I definitely had to do the research and I will always feel bad for that,” she confessed. Cyan said even her public apology on Instagram and YouTube fell flat because she failed to express the right tone.
“Absolutely not. I’m demanding sensitivity from my tone from now on. How I speak and how I address situations. This is absolutely a learning curve for me. I’m sorry to everybody. But at the end of the tunnel, there is always sunshine.”
The backlash, she revealed, came with real consequences.
“I lost some bit of dignity, and I have a lot of anxiety. I lost my TikTok account, and I lost quite a number of brands,” Cyan said.
Her relationship also crumbled under the weight of the scandal.
“He was my man. He just got distant because of this situation, but I don’t think I lost him. Maybe I became the face of human trafficking, and that’s why he decided to leave me. I was madly in love. My man is a rich man, an independent man, and he is that man,” she explained.
Still reflecting, she added:
“If a person feels like I’m too much for them, they are not enough for me.”
Despite the challenges, Cyan insists she remains proud of her resilience.
“I want to give myself some credit though, because there is so much that I go through. I’m a hero to myself.”
On her dating life, Cyan said she doesn’t have a specific type and has dated both wealthy and broke men. She claimed one of her ex-boyfriends was abusive and even stole from her.
When it comes to dealbreakers, however, Cyan admitted she has non-negotiables.
“You can’t be Nigerian, Tsonga, and you definitely cannot be a rapper. The first red flag with a guy, especially a rapper, is when they’re suicidal in their songs.”
