In the heat of viral backlash, comedian AY Makun challenges Nigeria to rethink male vulnerability and the cost of public accountability after music icon 2Baba released a heartfelt apology.
When Nigerian music icon 2Baba dropped a raw, tear-laced video apology to his wife Natasha Osawaru, social media lit up—not just with reactions to his controversial comments about monogamy, but with debates about masculinity, remorse, and emotional truth in the public eye.
The noise was loud. The judgment was louder. But then, comedian AY Makun stepped into the fire, not to excuse, but to add depth to the dialogue.
The Spark: 2Baba’s Candid Confession Turns Controversial
Speaking on Nedu’s The Honest Bunch podcast, 2Baba made a sweeping generalization: “Men are not wired to be with one woman.”
The backlash was immediate—critics labeled him disrespectful, immature, and irresponsible. The heat intensified until 2Baba addressed the uproar head-on via an Instagram video: “I messed up… I’m sorry. I’ll be a better man.”
But that apology didn’t silence the critics—it split the nation.
AY’s Perspective: “Na Who Dem Catch Na Him Be Thief”
In a deeply personal response, AY Makun took to social media to challenge the mob mentality: “It’s easy to cast the first stone at the supposed offender. But no one ever asks, ‘Are you okay?’ Our vulnerability doesn’t protect us—it exposes us. Na who dem catch na him be thief.”
He saw 2Baba not as a villain, but as a man under pressure, struggling to live up to public expectations while managing private pain.
“I just saw a man under duress taking accountability—not because he’s perfect, but because he’s human.”
The Male Silence Code: A Culture Under Review
AY didn’t stop there. He aimed squarely at societal double standards: “As men, we’re trained to suffer in silence. Whether we’re right or wrong, we’re told to ‘man up.’ And when we finally speak, it rarely ends well.”
The comedian’s words struck a nerve, calling out a culture that punishes men for being flawed, emotional, or honest, especially in the public eye.
Public Reactions: A Nation Divided
While AY’s empathy won applause from many, others saw his defense as enabling emotional recklessness:
One user asked: “Why is he under duress? What exactly did we miss?”
Some argued that his take diluted 2Baba’s responsibility with “emotional alibis.”
Daddy Freeze chimed in with a cryptic jab, comparing 2Baba’s shift from icon to “a Corolla”—a metaphor for a fall from grace.
Still, others lauded AY for using his platform to spark overdue conversations about masculinity and grace.
Beyond the Drama: Emotional Labor in Entertainment
In a surprising turn, AY urged the government to start compensating entertainers for being cultural “shock absorbers”—providing comic relief and distraction from national chaos, often at the expense of their emotional health.
“We deserve bonuses for helping Nigerians forget their pain, even when we’re silently drowning in ours.”
Final Thought: Is There Room for Growth in Public Failure?
AY Makun’s intervention wasn’t about justifying 2Baba’s comments—it was about unpacking the why behind them. In doing so, he turned a viral apology into a conversation about emotional repression, masculinity, and the complexity of being human under the spotlight.
His message was simple yet profound: “Accountability and vulnerability can coexist. But they both come at a cost.”
