In a no-holds-barred chat on the Bagfuel podcast, Afrobeats superstar Davido peeled back the curtain on one of the most controversial associations in Nigerian pop culture—his past friendship with convicted internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
With candor and a tinge of disbelief, Davido admitted: “Hushpuppi is my friend, but I didn’t know he was into fraud.”
The conversation, now going viral, has reignited online debates and drawn a flood of reactions across social platforms. Many fans were shocked, while others empathized with the singer, noting how Hushpuppi’s luxury lifestyle and social media image could have easily masked darker dealings.
“He lived a good life,” Davido added in the interview, before offering up a moment of grace: “My prayers go out to him.” That line, though brief, has stirred controversy as well as compassion, reflecting the complex emotions surrounding the disgraced Instagram sensation.
Hushpuppi was dramatically arrested in Dubai back in June 2020, extradited to the United States, and later sentenced in November 2022 to over 11 years in prison for masterminding a global network of online fraud schemes. He was also ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution to defrauded victims.
Davido’s remarks are now being dissected from every angle. For some, it’s a wake-up call about the blurred lines between stardom and street hustle in an era where Instagram fame and real-life affluence can be indistinguishable. For others, it’s a call for celebrities to tighten their circles and exercise due diligence with the people they associate with—both publicly and privately.
The podcast moment wasn’t just an offhand reflection—it was a reminder of how fame, influence, and image often intersect in ways that can either build legends or ignite controversy.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Davido’s honesty has once again put him at the center of the cultural conversation—this time not for a chart-topping hit, but for a reality check that’s shaking up more than just the music scene.
