Content creator Elizabeth Amadu, popularly known as Jarvis, has spoken about her challenging childhood, financial hardship, rise on TikTok and the circumstances that led to her relationship with fellow content creator Peller.
Jarvis revealed that she was raised by her grandparents after growing up in a difficult family environment.
She said her mother lives with bipolar disorder, which made her childhood particularly challenging and, at times, traumatic.
“I was already exhausted. Grandpa was sick, and I came into a family through a mother who has bipolar disorder.
“Growing up with her was very stressful and depressing because sometimes the disorder could be extreme.
“Today, she would be nice and good; the next minute, she could become violent, destroy things and insult us. She would say things like, ‘Oh, you stupid child. What are you doing here? Your father is mad,’” she said.
The content creator also disclosed that she grew up without knowing her biological father.
According to Jarvis, her mother had travelled out of Nigeria, became pregnant and later returned to the country, where she gave birth to her.
“I didn’t grow up with my dad because I don’t know who my dad is. So, I don’t know anything about my father. But she would keep saying, ‘Oh, your dad is this, your dad is that.’
“Growing up without a dad was not easy, especially because my mum was not mentally stable,” she added.
Despite the difficulties at home, Jarvis credited her grandparents with providing the discipline and direction that helped shape her character.
“I grew up with my grandma and grandpa, and they did their best to raise me well. They were very educated and strict. That strictness was what tamed me, and I appreciate them because it really helped shape my life.”
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Jarvis also recalled the financial difficulties she experienced alongside her sister, revealing that there were times when they struggled to pay their school fees and went without food.
She said she was determined to remain in school and refused to resort to questionable means of making money despite the financial pressure.
Her journey into TikTok live streaming began after a friend she met on the platform introduced her to the opportunity.
“I was like, ‘How?’ So, the first day I tried it with my sister, I had about 200 views and made $5. I was like, ‘Wow!’”
She explained that the money meant a lot to them because of their difficult circumstances.
“Because we were always hungry, we would go on TikTok and watch food videos just to feel satisfied. We would salivate and, at the end of the day, cry and pray, saying, ‘God, please help us.’
“But when we went live and saw that we had made five dollars, we were happy.”
Jarvis said she and her sister eventually became regular livestreamers despite resistance from their family, who had a negative perception of social media.
She explained that their main goal was to earn enough money to continue their education and meet their basic needs.
The content creator also recounted how she first met Peller, saying their paths crossed during a TikTok livestream.
According to Jarvis, Peller initially expressed interest in her sister, while she encouraged him to pursue her sibling instead.
“I met Peller on a livestream. He was wooing my sister. He was also liking me, but I was like, ‘Bro, don’t talk to me. Talk to my sister. You and her would have that connection.’”
She said she was initially hesitant to entertain Peller’s advances because she was shy, worried about how her family would react and conscious of the age difference between them.
“I was just thinking, ‘Okay, you’re my sister’s type.’ But this young man didn’t want to relent.”
Jarvis said she initially regarded her interactions with Peller as nothing more than an opportunity to create content and enjoy themselves.
“For me, it was simply, ‘Let’s create content and have fun. Dey your dey, let me dey my dey. If we meet in front, we’ll just be friends.’
“I never expected all of this to become reality.”