Let's get this straight, I do not support the public, through the press or as individuals, invading the privacy of celebrities or those in the public eye. They are still human beings like you and I and they deserve their privacy too. I do believe that celebs need publicity to remain in the public eye which is how they make their money, but it doesn't necessarily have to be negative. Toni Payne should not just be crucified for marrying/divorcing a famous musician, she's also a hard working woman, and an employer of labor. But while journalists who write about celebs should be rounded, reporting on the good and the bad about these celebrities, at the end of the day though, it's their choice and they're just doing their job.
Now I don't doubt that being in the public eye is a difficult thing. There is probably an invasion of privacy which some of us cannot understand. I had a talk with Atala about this after I found out that some of my comments on the Onyeka Onwenu/Toni Payne/Azuka Ogujiuba saga did not go down well with some people. I am of the opinion that once you enter the public domain, you should be prepared to give up some of your privacy. Sometimes even, it is the publicists of these celebs that push their personal lives to the journalists, all for publicity.
Below is an excerpt from the recent press release by Onyeka Onwenu in defense of Toni Payne, who she thinks is being negatively targeted by a particular journalist.
Ms Toni Payne is my publicist and a young woman who impresses me with her zeal for work and excellent knowledge of the Nigerian Entertainment terrain with regards to what she does, which is publicism. She is respectful and conducts herself with decorum. She handles assignments with a seriousness that belies her young age. Ever since I came in contact with her, for the publicity of my Legend CD early this year, I have not ceased to be amazed by her appetite for work and sincerity of purpose. To watch her pummelled on Azuka’s Saturday This Day column, week after week, and unnecessarily, has been a torture for me. Ms Payne has laughed off these obvious attacks but I am not prepared to do so.
From the above press release, which must have been signed off by Toni Payne herself, being Onyeka Onwenu's publicist, I commend their camp. TP is obviously a consummate professional. She knows that she is a celeb, and she handles her business without getting into spats or fights with those who are writing about her. I think the release is a brilliant double whammy, it puts out a good word for TP and is also a publicity gimmick to bring Onyeka Onwenu (as we can see, half of it was about her and her music) to the young audience, by making her talk about what interests Naija youths today.
Moving on, another person that has also remained vilified in the public eye is former president Olusegun Obasanjo. And to think that the man has been out of office for the past several years. Obasanjo is not a saint, neither is he a devil. He did a few things people did not like, but he also moved Nigeria forward in many other ways. Now he is retired, a private citizen and yet, some keep hounding him. Do we wonder why our public officials amass money to buy private jets and secluded mansions, when we still stoop to this kind of barbaric behavior? Below is part of the Sahara Reporters news report on Obasanjo being assaulted in a Lagos airport
A police source told Saharareporters that when Obj assailant was brought into the police station and asked by interrogator, "are you crazy", the man replied, " if you say I am crazy what would you say about Obasanjo." The man then further asked the police interrogator, whether (he) the assailant was the one the looted the funds of Nigeria, rigged elections and slept with his son's wife" Police authorities are detaining the man claiming that they are investigating his state of mental health.
I think the man should be charged for assault and battery.
As much as I don't support privacy invasion.. celebs should be ready for such. The OBJ story has kept me ROTFL... am sure the necessary punishment will be meted out 2 d man... PS: I'm not sure 9ice has sang any song as per his divorce like u did mentn..
ReplyDeletei dont agree that celebs should have their privacy invaded.They are doing a job they are doing entertaining us.It may be the norm to invade their privacy but it doesnt make it right in anyway.I am glad Onyeka stood up for that girl. Enough is enough...at the end of the day Toni payne is a human being and can be my sister or your sister..
ReplyDeleteAs for OBJ...LOL. The guy is right na.Did OBJ and his fellow people not loot money and commit other crimes?
i meant "they are doing a job by entertaining us"
ReplyDeleteI think what people took offense to is that you said or implied that 'she should be happy she is getting some attention'...that's me paraphasing my understaning of what was said and the reaction that followed.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are celebs of sorts and will get good and bad press but to say someone should be happy cos bad press is better than no press is not right, IMO.
....the article made me laugh sha cos it seems like Ms Onwenu needed the publicity herself as 85% of the write up was about her and he lifes work.
As for OBJ...buahahahah the whole debacle had me in stitches. How does a cilivian enter inside the car of an ex presido?? says alot about his security.
Please let them hound him...is it not cos we let things be that IBB has the audacity to want to rule us again cos per normal we will just take it?
So amassing wealth at the expense of the citizens they are suppose to protect and building secluded mansions to keep them safe KNOWING they have wronged the people at large is not barbaric?? If the government does right by its people they wouldn't 'stoop so low'...imagine the kind of balls and frustration worrying the man for him to even think to approach an ex presidos car talk less of laying a finger on him. Was it right? No! but abeg Myne leave that tin!!
Myne,
ReplyDeleteI suspect that most people are not exactly even-handed in their belief about celebrities deserving to have some privacy. A lot depends on whether they like the celebrity in the first place.
So for some people, "the public accusations against Toni Payne are a terrible thing. But Obasanjo deserves to have his pangolo head knocked good and proper..."
The OBJ assaulter deserves a medal jare. Didnt an Iraqi man throw a shoe at George Bush? how much more Obasanjo. I don't know who Toni Payne is and I believe her business is hers ultimately; but I applaud Onyeka for coming to the fore to give her such a glowing testimonial. many would not stick their heads out that far.
ReplyDeleteLETS GET THIS STRAIGHT! IT'S THE PUBLIC THAT MAKES PEOPLE CELEBRITIES! IF ONE'S TALENT IS NOT RECOGNIZED OR BOUGHT, HOW CAN ONE BECOME A CELEBRITY?....JUST AS THEY GET FAVOURS & DOORS OPEN FOR THEM, THEY PAID THE PRICE WITH THEIR PRIVACY! YOU CAN'T EAT YOUR CAKE & STILL EXPECT TO HAVE IT...A COIN IS 2-FACED & NO PAIN NO GAIN! & BAD NEWS SELL FASTER WHICH IS PURELY BUSINESS TO THE MEDIA HOUSES! AS FOR TONI, HER HUBBY IS AT FAULT FOR PROLONGING THE MATTER SO LONG.....AS FOR OBSANJO..I LAUGHED AT THE COMMENT....IF PEOPLE CAN & STILL TALK OF THE DEAD, IS IT THE LIVING THAT WOULD BE SPARED?... THEY SHOULD ACCEPT IT AS ONE OF THE RISK IN THEIR PROFESSION BECOX EVERY JOB DOES HAVE ONE.
ReplyDelete@ The nitty-gritty tales of a housewife: u spoke my mind jare! i wont bother reiterating what u said esp on TP, well spoken!
ReplyDeleteas for obj and the likes of him....i am baffled at the nigerian spirit o! Is Obj the only ruler we have had in this country? Abdusallam nko? Is it not when u respect urself that pple will respect u? like Repressed One said, that's why IBB and his cohorts have the effrontery to show their face still. Any president is in the public eye, an ill-mannered, flippantly disregarding etc president is not excluded.
PS: i think Nigeria will get to the heights, with or without all these pple. I can imagine how much Obj IS receiving in royalties for each development he ALLOWED to happen.
I'm beginning to feel the 9ice/Toni Payne divorce is a publicity stunt after reading your post. If Toni Payne is Onyeka'a publicist and ID Cabasa worked on Onyeka's new album if not produced it..... I can smell a rat. Toni Payne seems to have a stake in ID Cabasa's 'Coded Tunes'. So why didn't they settle the rift between them before it generated into a divorce?
ReplyDeleteI can smell a rat jo ....!
Just my own opinion!
Read the whole 'saga' on Linda Ikeji's blog just two days ago. It's funny how the knives come out when one is simply expressing an opinion, albeit not a popular one.
ReplyDeleteCelebrities are human beings too like the rest of us. There should be limits to the invasion of privacy irrespective of what one does for a living.
At the risk of being controversial (and excluding naijas with their ridiculous logic defying moral high ground), one should not say that prostitutes/sex workers deserve to be raped because their job exposes them to rapists.
It's pretty much the same logic.
I think the reaction to your comments was OTT, though.
ReplyDeleteWell Myne, you just got a taste of the prize of possessing a known name. Obviously you weren't the only one that stated the obvious fact, that Azuka was doing her job. It was the familiarity of your name that attracted the heat. Anyway, don't let them draw you into the usually controversies, especially since most of the haters are 'anonymous'. As for many 'anonymous' naija web users, dia story remain plenty. we go tuk am all one day. Keep doing your beautiful thing jor.
ReplyDeleteAs for OBJ, the guy just paid for being an unsuccessful president. This does not justify the actions of his assaulter. I do concur, that guy should be prosecuted. Poor OBJ...
ReplyDeleteLOL @ the Obasanjo's story. The guy get liver sha.
ReplyDeleteDitto the first half of Repressed One's comments on the article by Onyeka Onwenu, your comment on TP, and people's reaction. But seriously some of the anonymous people's comments just went off topic. People just be saying crap under the guise of anonymity. Smcheew.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the OBJ debacle, i swear, he needs to be hounded more intensely. (I haven't even read the article yet but i heard about it). Plus OBJ being harassed is no excuse for him to "amass money to buy private jets and secluded mansions." All these "naija officials who have destroyed and are destroying the country" need to be embarrassed. For any naija leader who doesn't want naija to prosper or have peace, it is unreasonable and illogical for them to also demand for peace in their lives.
Don't know the head and tail of this gist but just fragments but I'm enjoying it..
ReplyDelete@2cute4u honestly, we are in the same boat lol. I only recently knew about Toni Payne. Is that her real name? And pray tell, why is she so famous?! I really didn't know that publicists were celebrities lol!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading these comments as much as i enjoyed the post. That guy that assaulted Obj is in wahala oh. Yikes!