Phyna Issues Public Apology for Ethnic Remark Following Car Vandalism Incident

The former Big Brother Naija winner initially took to social media to express frustration after her vehicle was reportedly vandalized by a group of roadside beggars when she declined to give them money. In the now-deleted tweets, she specifically referred to the alleged perpetrators as “Yoruba boys,” a remark that quickly drew criticism for being ethnically insensitive.

In a follow-up statement, Phyna admitted that her reaction was driven by anger and frustration over the incident and clarified that she had no intention of maligning the Yoruba ethnic group or inciting division.

“I must say I let my anger get the best of me with the tweets I made earlier. It’s just a whole lot going on, plus having to fix the scratches and replace what was taken from the windshield of my car,” she wrote.

Phyna emphasized that the actions of a few individuals should not be attributed to an entire ethnic group, adding that she has worked extensively with Yoruba professionals throughout her career and holds deep respect for all Nigerian tribes.

“It wasn’t my intention to malign the Yoruba tribe or cause division; the damage could’ve been done by anybody from any tribe. I’m not a bigot, I love all tribes, I love my Yoruba brothers and sisters, and it’s evident in my creative works.”

Concluding her statement, she said:

“My anger does not in any way justify the tweets I made. I’m human, I’m not perfect, and I’m using this medium to apologise — Emabinu, E f’orijimi (Please don’t be angry, forgive me).”

The incident has sparked conversations online about the dangers of ethnic profiling and the responsibility of public figures in maintaining unity through their platforms.