Media personality Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has responded to the backlash he received for attending the Service of Songs of late actor Alexx Ekubo in a black outfit. The event, held at the Monarch Event Centre in Lagos, had a white dress code, but Daddy Freeze and his wife arrived in black, sparking criticism from attendees and social media users.
Daddy Freeze's Explanation
Reacting to the backlash, the former broadcaster apologised and clarified that his choice was not intentional. He stated that he received an invitation card with a code he scanned before attending, but he did not notice the dress code information displayed on the invitation. According to him, the dress code was placed in a corner of the card, and he overlooked it.
Criticism of the Celebratory Tone
In his apology video, Daddy Freeze also criticised the celebratory nature of the event. He argued that Alexx Ekubo's death was not a "call to glory" and that the late actor did not die "empty," as some speakers suggested. He noted that Ekubo was only 40 years old, younger than his mother's youngest child, who is 41. He added that in his culture, black is traditionally worn to funerals.
Public Reactions
The apology video drew mixed reactions from fans. Some criticised him for not checking the dress code properly, while others supported his views on funeral traditions. Comments included:
- @celestine.okechukwu.9279: "Burials or Deaths in Nigeria are always a celebration.... We need to rethink our philosophy about burials and the useless, wasteful culture."
- @itz_jenky: "Na lie. Your partner did not see the dress code too?"
- @lewis_oll: "To be honest, I was also shocked to see them in White."
- @twinkles_ib: "Oga you claim you love Alex. Will he be happy seeing you set the camera to analyse how his service of songs was conducted?"
- @queen_snnowhenry: "He's not from your place, apologize and keep quiet. This content is exactly what you intend to benefit from your action, cos I don't see the need for all this talk. You have no right to question what his family wants for their son's burial."
Related Incident: Yvonne Jegede's Outfit
In a separate incident, actress Yvonne Jegede also faced scrutiny for her attire at the same event. Although she wore a white dress, some attendees criticised her outfit choice, advising her on appropriate dressing for such occasions. The video of her arrival at the Monarch Event Centre went viral, with many mourning the loss of the beloved actor.
