Controversial Nigerian singer Speed Darlington has issued a public apology following widespread backlash over a viral video in which he appeared to confess to a sexual encounter with a minor.
The footage, which sparked outrage across social media platforms, showed the artiste recounting in disturbing detail an alleged incident involving a 15-year-old girl. His remarks—including claims of paying hotel staff to clean up bloodstains—drew condemnation from the public and prompted swift responses from authorities.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) both launched investigations into the matter.
In a statement, the Lagos State Government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on sexual and gender-based violence, urging citizens to provide relevant information to assist ongoing inquiries.
In a follow-up video posted to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Speed Darlington walked back his claims, stating that the story was entirely fabricated. He explained that the video was part of a publicity stunt to promote his new music and was never intended to be taken seriously.
“All my followers pissed off about the video I recorded in which I spoke about me sleeping with a 15-year-old—I am an artiste. I need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not getting booked. Simple. Nobody is booking something that is not trending,” he said.
He continued, “I have a new song now. The song is talking about explicit themes. This is my genre. I do not perform Christian music.
When I dropped my song, I needed provocative content to push it. That is what I was doing. Don’t give it more than it is supposed to have. If any of you are offended, it’s alright. Apologies.”
While Speed Darlington has since apologized to his fans and those offended by the video, the incident has ignited broader discussions about the ethical boundaries of controversy-driven marketing in the entertainment industry.
Legal experts and child protection advocates have cautioned that, regardless of intent, publicly describing or fabricating exploitative behavior involving minors can have serious social and legal consequences. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any charges will be filed in connection with the video.
