Nigerian music sensation Ayra Starr has become the latest victim of a disturbing cyberbullying campaign that has escalated into what digital rights advocates are calling digital violence. The rising Afrobeats star found herself at the center of a coordinated online attack that included the creation and distribution of a fake nude image using digital manipulation.
The Disturbing Details of the Attack
The incident came to light when X user @EuniceOkePurple exposed how another user, @o_useyi, who has since been suspended from the platform, allegedly took Ayra Starr's photograph and digitally removed her clothing to create a fabricated nude image. The manipulated content was then circulated across social media platforms, generating what the perpetrator described as likes and impressions.
This wasn't an isolated incident in the harassment campaign against the Mavin Records artist. The cyberbullying extended to baseless rumors about her personal hygiene, with trolls selectively editing a video clip featuring Ayra Starr and fellow artist Tems to falsely suggest the singer had body odor. According to reports from Inside Port Harcourt Media, the smear campaign appeared deliberately coordinated to damage her mental health and public image.
A Pattern of Digital Violence Against Nigerian Women
Ayra Starr's ordeal reflects a broader pattern of online gender-based violence targeting Nigerian women in the public eye. Other high-profile figures have faced similar digital attacks:
- Toyin Abraham: The Nollywood actress filed a formal petition against cyberbullies in 2024 after facing defamation campaigns online.
- Hauwa Lawal: The content creator experienced intense body-shaming and demeaning insults following social media exchanges.
As documented by fact-checking organization TheCable, gendered disinformation campaigns systematically target prominent Nigerian women with character assassination through slurs, smear tactics, and manipulated media.
Calls for Institutional Accountability
The digital rights community is increasingly calling on entertainment companies to take stronger stands when their artists face such violations. There's growing pressure on Mavin Records to move beyond traditional public relations responses and actively defend Ayra Starr's dignity and safety.
In June 2025, the singer expressed her frustration on X, stating: There's nothing I can do nor say to people that intentionally want to bully... You've found a scapegoat abi?... Focus on issues that actually matter and leave me TF alone.
The creation and distribution of fake nude images constitutes image-based abuse, a form of digital violence designed to shame, humiliate, and control victims. Even when the images are artificially generated, the psychological impact and violation remain severe.
This case highlights the urgent need for stronger protections for women in Nigeria's digital spaces and greater accountability for both individual perpetrators and the institutions that represent targeted individuals. The incident serves as a stark reminder that online harassment can constitute real violence with lasting consequences for victims' mental health and career prospects.
