Entertainment

Mo Abudu Responds To Critically Panned Chief Daddy 2

After two weeks of heavy criticism of her latest release Chief Daddy 2, Mo Abudu, the CEO of Ebony Life Films has responded to the negative feedback from Nigerians.

In a video posted to her verified Instagram page, Abudu said she acknowledges the disappointment expressed by critics and that their “voices are heard.” Mo added that she appreciated constructive criticisms noting that it was a way to ensure Ebony Life Productions continue to “deliver the great quality productions,” that has come to be expected from the production company.

Chief Daddy 2: Going For Broke was released on New Year’s day exclusively on the streaming platform, Netflix. It is a sequel to the original film, Chief Daddy which was released in 2018.

The comedy film follows the lives of the immediate and extended family members of a late chief called Chief Daddy as they scramble for the wealth that the family patriarch has left behind.

Since its inception, movies by Mo Abudu’s Ebony Life Films have been highly anticipated, from Wedding Party to Oloture, a fact she stated in her speech.

Due to an impressive track record (by Nigerian standards) much was expected from Chief Daddy 2, unfortunately, fans were left with great displeasure, criticizing the screenplay and direction.

Those who had watched the movie took to Twitter and other social media platforms to discourage others from watching describing it with words such as “confusing” and “annoying”. Regardless, Chief Daddy 2 peaked at number 4 in the Top 10 Nigeria category on the streaming platform.

Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan and written by Abudu, Bode Asiyanbi, Hiedi Uys, and Salah Sabiti, the film features a star-studded cast that includes Shaffy Bello, Funke Akindele-Bello, Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Rahama Sadau, Mawuli Gavor, Beverly Naya, and musician, Falz.

While Abudu welcomed criticisms, she noted that she would not tolerate trolls who are out to insult and abuse her or members of Ebony Life Studios, warning that such comments would be restricted.

Mo Abudu’s Speech Read;

As the CEO of the EbonyLife Group, I am aware of the mixed reactions to the release of Chief Daddy 2 on the 1st of January on Netflix. While some people enjoyed the film, others did not, and so I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Chief Daddy fans that felt some disappointment with the sequel.

Thank you so much for caring, and for sharing your concerns so passionately.

Over the years, we have been the privileged recipients of your love and support of our productions – from Fifty, The Wedding Party, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Your Excellency, The Governor, Castle and Castle, Oloture and of course Chief Daddy 1 amongst others. All these amazing stories are on Netflix for your viewing pleasure. So, when you express your disappointment with us, please know your voices are heard.

We appreciate your constructive feedback. This way, my team and I can continuously improve ourselves so we can deliver the great quality productions you have come to expect from EbonyLife studios.

Please share your feedback respectfully otherwise we will have to restrict entry to you on our pages. We really don’t want anyone to miss out on finding out about the exciting stories we have for you in the pipeline.

Thank you for listening, and rest assured that we have great things in store for you, with some amazing titles coming your way soon.

Once again, wishing you all a very happy new year with an abundance of blessings.

Entertainment

Tems becomes first African female artist to feature on a song with a billion Spotify streams.

This feat comes after Future’s 2022 hit single ‘Wait For U’ reached 1 billion Spotify streams thus making Tems the first African female artist to reach this milestone.

The record which features Canadian megastar Drake and vocals from the Nigerian award-winning star has enjoyed enduring commercial success since its release as part of Future 2022 album ‘I Never Liked You’.

The single has marked several high points for Tems including making her the first Nigerian artist to debut at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned her her first Grammy award for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2023 Grammys.

With her latest feat, she joins Wizkid(Drake’s ‘One Dance’) and Rema (‘Calm Down’ featuring Selena Gomez) as the Nigerian artists who have appeared on songs with over 1 billion Spotify streams.

Since breaking into the international mainstream in 2020 after her decisive contribution to Wizkid’s hit single ‘Essence’, Tems has risen to superstardom with collaboration with Beyonce and Drake.

She also became the first Nigerian to earn an Oscar nomination after she was shortlisted for Best Original Score for writing ‘Lift Me Up’ the lead soundtrack for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ which was performed by Rihanna.

At the 2025 Grammys, the singer made history by becoming the first Nigerian artist to be nominated in the R&B category with a nod for Best R&B Performance.

She also won her second Grammy award after she picked up the Best African Song Performance for her song ‘Love Me Jeje’.

Celebs

Chimamanda Adichie announces the birth of her twins at 47

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the multi-award-winning Nigerian author has announced the birth of her twins with husband, Ivara Esege.

She made the good news known during her interview with The Guardian where she also spoke about her new book, Dream Count, cancel culture, and other topics.

The 47-year-old author revealed that she welcomed her twins months ago but kept the news private because she wanted to protect her children.

Chimamanda disclosed that many didn’t know she got married in 2009, noting further that Nigerians are nosy people, making her hesitant to talk about her family.

Addressing the interviewer, Charlotte Edwardes, Chimamanda said, “You’ve met my babies. I want to protect my children. I’m OK with mentioning them, but I don’t want the piece to become about them.

“So, here’s the thing, Nigerians are nosy, they want to know about your personal life. Because of that, I am resistant. I very rarely talk about it.

The mother of three, also spoke about cancel culture as she reflected on the massive backlash she received for her remarks about trans women in 2017. For the remarks, her career took a huge blow.

She had been asked during the 2017 interview whether a transgender woman was “any less of a real woman”. Her response was, “A trans woman is a trans woman”.

However, speaking about cancel culture in her latest interview, Chimamanda described it as bad, saying it should be stopped.

“What do I want to say about cancel culture? Cancel culture is bad. We should stop it. End of story”.

Chimamanda is married to Ivara Esege, a Nigerian doctor. The lovebirds tied the knot in 2009 and welcomed their first daughter in 2016.

Celebs

Nedu Steps Aside From The Honest Bunch Podcast Amidst Sex-For-Roles Controversy

After finding himself in the heart of recent controversy, Nigerian media personality Nedu Wazobia has resigned from the popular podcast ‘The Honest Bunch.’

In a statement shared on Instagram on February 14, 2025, Nedu said hosting the podcast had been a great experience, but the recent constant scrutiny and false accusations had become too much for him.

He wrote, “The past week has brought a lot into perspective for me. Hosting The Honest Bunch Podcast has been an incredible journey—one built on open conversations, bold perspectives, and the willingness to tackle difficult topics. But with that responsibility has come an overwhelming level of scrutiny, antagonism, and unfounded accusations that have now begun to take a personal toll.”

He explained that stepping down was a tough choice but necessary for his peace of mind and the future of the show

In light of recent events, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the podcast. This is not a decision I take lightly, but one I believe is necessary—for my peace of mind, for my family, and for the integrity of the show itself. I have always been committed to honest conversations, but when those conversations lead to relentless attacks and misrepresentation, it becomes clear that stepping back is the best path forward.

I sincerely hope this decision brings an end to the negativity surrounding my name and allows The Honest Bunch Podcast to continue thriving.

His resignation comes amid controversy stirred by social media critic Martins Ortse, aka VeryDarkMan, who accused him of demanding sex for movie roles from a female content creator, Jojo.

VeryDarkMan made the claim amid his ongoing face-off with stand-up comedian, Deeone who had claimed to have evidence that VeryDarkMan was gay during a recent appearance on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Deeone.

VeryDarkMan then threatened to release the names of all celebrities Nedu had allegedly slept with in exchange for roles.