Alexx Ekubo, DJ Cuppy, Kiitan Bukola, Ronke Tiamiyu, and Princess Shyngle are among Nigerian celebrities whose highly publicised engagements ended before they could walk down the aisle. Some relationships collapsed after elaborate proposals and wedding plans had already been announced, leaving fans surprised. While some celebrities permanently moved on from their former partners, Princess Shyngle's engagement story took an unexpected twist after she later reconciled with her fiancé.
Alexx Ekubo and Fancy Acholonu: A High-Profile Breakup
Alexx Ekubo and Fancy Acholonu's failed engagement remains one of the most talked-about celebrity breakups in Nigeria. The Nollywood actor proposed to his US-based model girlfriend in May 2021, and the couple appeared ready to take their relationship to the next level. Their wedding plans reportedly included a traditional ceremony and a white wedding later that year. However, barely three months after their engagement, Fancy announced that their planned wedding had been called off.
The announcement shocked fans because the couple had been openly celebrating their relationship and had already started making preparations for their big day. Legit.ng reported at the time that Fancy publicly confirmed the split and ended their engagement. The former couple's relationship continued to generate headlines long after the breakup. In December 2022, Fancy publicly apologised to Alexx and his family for the way she ended the relationship. Years later, the failed engagement remained a subject of public interest, particularly after fresh discussions about the former couple resurfaced.
DJ Cuppy and Ryan Taylor: A Whirlwind Romance That Fizzled
DJ Cuppy's engagement to British boxer and YouTuber Ryan Taylor was one of the fastest celebrity romances to capture public attention. The billionaire heiress announced in December 2022 that she was engaged to Taylor, revealing that they had met only 25 days before the engagement. Cuppy's announcement itself became a viral moment after she accidentally tagged another man named Ryan Taylor while declaring her love for her fiancé. The relationship appeared to move at lightning speed.
However, the excitement did not last forever. By 2023, the engagement had ended, with the former couple going their separate ways. Cuppy later openly reflected on the failed relationship. At a Wimbiz London event, she revealed that she had been engaged the previous year but was no longer engaged. She also admitted that she had failed to say no to a fiancé she should have declined. The DJ has since continued her search for love, occasionally speaking about the lessons she learnt from the relationship.
Kiitan Bukola and Kingsley: Infidelity and Disrespect
Yoruba actress Kiitan Bukola also experienced the heartbreak of a failed engagement. In November 2022, the actress announced her engagement to her lover, Kingsley, sharing a video from the proposal and proudly showing off her engagement ring. At the time, fans and colleagues flooded her social media page with congratulatory messages as many expected wedding bells to follow. But the relationship reportedly collapsed only a few months later.
Kiitan eventually opened up about what happened during an interview with fellow actress Debbie Shokoya. According to the actress, she ended the engagement after discovering what she described as her fiancé's infidelity and repeated disrespect. She recounted a particularly painful incident in which she travelled to see her fiancé after learning that he was sick, only to meet another woman in his house. Kiitan said the woman was there to care for him and was allegedly presenting herself as his girlfriend. The actress said she eventually left the relationship and dropped her engagement ring behind with a note.
Ronke Tiamiyu and Princess Shyngle: Different Paths
Former beauty queen Ronke Tiamiyu made headlines after revealing that she had cancelled her engagement because she no longer loved her fiancé. The former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria contestant had accepted the man's proposal, but eventually realised that she did not want to proceed with the relationship. In 2018, Ronke openly explained her decision and admitted that accepting the proposal in the first place had been a mistake. She also made it clear that she was not prepared to allow societal pressure about marriage to force her into settling with someone she did not love.
Her decision came as preparations for the wedding appeared to be underway. Ronke even had to address people who were already asking about asoebi and wedding arrangements, jokingly telling event planners and caterers to stop contacting her. Gambian-born Ghanaian actress Princess Shyngle's engagement story came with an unexpected twist. In September 2019, the actress announced that she had accepted a marriage proposal from her Senegalese lover, Frederic Badji. The couple appeared deeply in love, and Shyngle gave fans a glimpse into their romance on social media.
But the relationship soon hit trouble. Just months after announcing the engagement, Shyngle declared herself single, effectively putting the future of their planned marriage in doubt. However, that was not the end of the story. In January 2020, the actress surprised her fans by announcing that she and Badji had reconciled and were engaged again. Legit.ng reported that she returned to social media with loved-up photos, videos and a screenshot of her conversation with Badji as she announced that their engagement was back on.
