Controversial singer Speed Darlington has issued a public apology following widespread backlash over a viral video in which he confesses to a sexual encounter with a minor.
The video, which quickly drew condemnation on social media, featured the artiste recounting in disturbing detail an alleged incident involving a 15-year-old girl, sparking outrage and calls for legal action.
In the original footage on Tuesday, Speed Darlington described the encounter in unsettling terms, including paying hotel staff to clean bloodstains, which intensified public concern and prompted investigations by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The Lagos State Government emphasized its zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence and urged the public to provide information to relevant authorities.
However, in a follow-up video shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday, Speed Darlington claimed that the confession was fabricated as part of a publicity stunt to promote his latest song.
He described the controversial remarks as “cruise” and insisted they were never meant to be taken seriously.
He explained, “All my followers pissed off about the video I recorded in which I spoke about me sleeping with a 15-year-old, I am an artiste. I need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not getting booked. Simple! Nobody is booking something that is not trending”.
He further elaborated, “I have a new song now. The song is talking about f#ck this, f#ck that. This is my genre. I do not perform Christian music. When I dropped my song, I needed f#ck contents to push it. That is what I was doing. Don’t give it more than it is supposed to have. If any of you are offended, it’s alright. Apologies”.
Despite his explanation and apology to fans and those offended, the incident has raised serious concerns about the ethics of using controversy for publicity in the entertainment industry.