Popular Nigerian comedian and social media influencer Freedom Atsepoyi, widely known as Mr Jollof, has finally broken his silence regarding the viral physical confrontation with activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly called VeryDarkMan or VDM, that occurred during a flight on November 17.
Public Apology to Family and Boss
In his emotional response to the incident, Mr Jollof, who also serves as the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Delta State governor, offered sincere apologies to several key figures in his life. He specifically addressed his wife, whom he affectionately referred to as "babe," expressing confidence that she would be proud of his handling of the situation.
The comedian also apologized to his children, making a firm promise that their father would never engage in such behavior again. Additionally, he extended his regrets to his boss, the Delta State governor, and other passengers who witnessed the unfortunate altercation onboard the aircraft.
Mr Jollof's Version of Events
According to Mr Jollof's detailed account of the incident, the conflict began when VDM initiated the confrontation by loudly challenging the comedian to "slap him as he had promised." The comedian revealed that he initially attempted to ignore the activist's provocations, maintaining his composure despite the public challenge.
The situation escalated when VDM approached Mr Jollof from the opposite side of the aircraft, prompting the comedian to defend himself physically. Mr Jollof admitted to slapping the activist and throwing punches during the altercation, emphasizing that self-defense motivated his actions rather than aggression.
Despite the physical nature of the conflict, Mr Jollof maintained that fighting contradicts his character, describing the incident as an exceptional circumstance that required him to stand up for himself against what he perceived as bullying behavior.
Social Media Reactions and Fan Responses
The viral video of the flight altercation sparked significant reactions across social media platforms, with fans and followers taking sides in the controversy. Mr Jollof's decision to address the situation directly and offer apologies received mixed responses from his audience.
One supporter, @rukyjudith, commented: "Am proud of u braa we for ughelli are sending our love. Edo blood nor fit normally," expressing solidarity with the comedian's actions.
Another user, @investor_willie01, defended Mr Jollof's response: "Some of you bashing Jolof will run away at the sight and hefty body of VDM alone. To me jolof won the fight, stand up against a bully always."
However, some commentators noted discrepancies between Mr Jollof's narration and the circulated video footage, with @2pockett observing: "This narrations d different from the video we watched oo Abi another video the lol, anyways u try but you collect small."
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Nigerian social media personalities and raises questions about appropriate conflict resolution among public figures. Mr Jollof's comprehensive apology and explanation attempt to address both the personal and professional repercussions of the very public disagreement.
