From my experience in Public Relations, the importance of publicity and becoming a viral sensation cannot be overemphasized. No one wants to know how you became famous; the important thing is that you are. Hence why these celebrities took advantage of either good or bad publicity.
Idris Okuneye AKA Bobrisky
For instance, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky has never stopped being in our faces and he is making money off it. If Bobrisky were a regular guy living at Ikorudu, nobody would have noticed him, but he came up with a strategy, became a cross-dresser, bleached his skin, and he got famous. Nigerians bashed him, but he didn’t care; he kept on taking pictures, twerking and posting it on his Instagram page. Now, he has over 1 million followers on Instagram, and he is a brand influencer. A lot of brands want him on board to promote their products; he is even into acting now.
Laura Ikeji
Laura Ikeji is another viral sensation who stayed in our faces until we got used to her. Laura used to be known as Linda Ikeji’s sister with a lot of negative publicity trailing her for fighting for her sister on social media. Immediately she got our attention; she decided to have it all together. Laura made dance videos which she was criticized for; she found a passion in a fashion which she developed into a brand. Now, with her own published book, she boasts of more than a million followers, and she is a brand ambassador for a lot of brands.
Linda Ikeji
Africa’s billionaire blogger has been in the news for the wrong reasons so many times. When she fell pregnant, she took her time before she broke the news that set the internet ablaze. When she gave birth and rumors trailed the baby and the baby’s father, Linda was constantly updating progress report on her blog because she knows that Nigerians love to gossip and they will go and read it which brings more traffic and money to her blog. The negative publicity helped her get even more views.
Omoni Oboli
The prolific filmmaker, actor, prouder, director and writer was in the news for the wrong reasons in March 2007 when she released her movie Okafor’s Law and was accused of stealing the storyline. Omoni wept during the movie premiere as the film was not shown. She faced a lot of humiliation and backlash on social media, but those criticisms helped the movie sell. Okafor’s Law which made over 90 million in the box office is Omoni’s highest grossing film. The bad publicity that trailed her helped sell the movie. A lot of people were curious to see this highly talked about movie that they headed to the cinema.
Tonto Dikeh
Nollywood actress and Instagram drama queen Tonto Charity Dikeh who has been going back and forth with regards to her ex-husband almost after two years of divorcing him. She made claims that he lasts for 40 seconds in bed and she said other nasty stuff about him which set the internet ablaze with some people supporting her and others claiming she is extra. Tonto tore anyone who cared to clap back at her to shred. The beautiful thing about this negative publicity is that it is suitable for her as she is cashing out In less than a week, she has gotten over 22k youtube subscribers, and her video is the 9th trending video on Youtube.
Every publicity is good publicity. So, when you are in the limelight for any reason that isn’t related to fraud or any other criminal activity, use it to your advantage. Nobody cares how you got popular; brands need people with a lot of engagement to advertise for them. To get everyone talking about you, you have to do what you got to do. Toke Makinwa made money off her marriage scandal; she got more subscribers to her vlog, published a book and went on tours abroad. Think about it.
