Popular Nigerian comedian Anita Asuoha, known as RealWarriPikin, has publicly apologised to her husband and fans after she jumped on singer Timaya during his performance at the AFRIMA Awards held in Dallas, United States. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, September 12, sparked a wave of reactions online, with some social media users urging the comedian to leave her marriage.
RealWarriPikin explains what happened at AFRIMA
RealWarriPikin clarified the sequence of events that led to the viral moment. According to the comedian, she was backstage during the event when she heard Timaya call for a female fan to join him on stage. She explained that she was in high spirits and excited at the time, which prompted her to run out to the stage without knowing exactly what the singer had planned for the performance.
In a statement, she said: "Please take it easy; I am sorry. I take full responsibility for my actions. You people have dragged me to the bone. Yesterday, I jumped dangerously. I jumped to conclusions." She further explained that Timaya, during his performance of the song "Ukwu," typically invites a female fan on stage to jump on him as part of the act, a detail she was not aware of at the moment.
She recounted: "At the AFRIMA awards held in Dallas yesterday, Timaya was performing. That was how he said he needed a lady on stage, and I was backstage. I was in high spirits and happy; that was how I came outside. That was how I ran out. Normally, if Timaya is performing Ukwu, he brings a fan on stage to jump on him and carry it. I did not know. That was how he told me I would jump, and I said I couldn't."
RealWarriPikin says she initially refused the stunt
The comedian revealed that she had initially refused to carry out the stunt, but Timaya appealed to her not to disrupt his performance. She said: "If you watch the full video, you will see where I am begging him. I told him that I cannot, but he said I should just forget about it and not spoil his performance."
RealWarriPikin noted that the moment was received with laughter and entertainment from the live audience at the event, but the reaction online was markedly different. "And yesterday, it was funny and entertaining on stage; everybody was laughing, but online it was not funny," she added.
RealWarriPikin responds to calls to leave her marriage
The comedian also addressed social media users who reacted to the incident by suggesting that she should leave her husband. She dismissed the calls, insisting that she has no plans to end her marriage. "All my online in-laws want me out of the marriage. Where do you people want to put me, where am I going? I am married well; where do I want to go? Now my husband is angry at me too. Don't you people know me? Is that in my character? There are just some kinds of awkward situations, and yesterday was one of them," she said.
The incident came just after RealWarriPikin was named Best Stand-Up Comedian at the awards ceremony held on Saturday, September 12. She emerged ahead of fellow Nigerian comedians Basketmouth, Bovi and Godfrey, as well as comedians from Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.
RealWarriPikin's apology and clarification come as she continues to face public scrutiny over the incident, with her husband reportedly upset about the situation. The comedian has taken full responsibility for her actions and has urged her fans to understand the context of what happened on stage.
