Celebrity is very interesting. We think we know the people behind our TV, phone, and laptop screens despite never meeting them one day in our lives.
We see a movie and just like that, we associate Robert Downey JR with Iron Man, or Kit Harrington with Jon Snow. But in reality, most of the time, the persona that we get either from a singer or an actor or anybody in the public eye is very different from how they are in the private.
Today, I’ll be highlighting 7 celebrities whose public personas (the image they’ve portrayed in their film, music, or music videos) vary greatly from who they really are.
1. Slimcase
For a man most popular for singing about being on a “Codeine Diet”, it will shock many people to know that Slimcase doesn’t even as much as drink, talk more do drugs or codeine.
The singer said in an interview with Showtime said:
I don’t smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs I am only a good actor .
The shaggy-haired singer known for his crazy energy and shouting on his songs and features is actually soft-spoken in interviews and in person. A completely different persona from what one might expect if they saw him on stage or in a music video.
2. Beverly Naya
Beverly Naya is a Nollywood actress who you’ve probably seen one time or the other playing the same type of character: the bitch. Or mean girl. Or seductress.
Beverly is a woman who has been greatly typecast in Nollywood as the “bad girl”, “the temptress”, but in reality, the actress couldn’t be further from that.
Despite her bitchy roles and people describing her as “arrogant” and a “snub”. The actress says she can’t be further from that. In an interview with Pulse TV, she said:
I think one of the main misconceptions is that people will see me and think that maybe I’m a snub, or I’m arrogant, or think too highly of myself. Which is not true. I think that’s a misconception. I’m reserved so when I meet people for the first time, I can be quiet not deliberately but because I’m trying to study the person or see if I can relate in some way. Then when I warm up, you start to see different layers. For example, I like to be bubbly, I like to make people laugh, and I like to laugh.
This year, the actress won the AMVCA award for Best Documentary for her project titled Skin which talked about colorism in Nigeria and the negative effects of bleaching and body-shaming. Now would her Nollywood “bad girl” persona ever do something like that?
3. Falz.
Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz or Falz The Bad Guy, is a popular Nigerian rapper and comedian.
Falz’s public persona is funny and unserious, especially with his Instagram skits and movie roles. From his glasses to his funny accent, the rapper comes off as simply a funny guy.
But Falz is way more than that. As the rapper’s shine started to rise in Nigeria and he started to put out more music and talk more, we started to uncover new layers of this man. Falz in reality is an outspoken man who feels strongly about his political, religious, and general beliefs and is never shy to express that in his art.
His music video, This is Nigeria, caused so much controversy and backlash especially from people in government who felt that the music video was disrespectful. Yet, the ‘funny people-pleasing’ rapper didn’t care.
Not what you’d expect from a simple Instagram comedian is it?
4. Tonto Dikeh
Tonto Dikeh is the queen of controversy in Nigeria. She dominates blogs and internet forums. Even on slow news days, Tonto finds her way into the conversation.
From her very public dispute and slander of her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, to the numerous numbers of controversies she’s found herself in: from cosmetic surgeries, to public feuds, to controversial statements, it is no shock why Tonto is seen as a shit-stirrer.
And maybe that part might be true, but according to Tonto and what we also saw in her reality TV series, King Tonto, she’s quite a shy person in public settings. She hardly leaves her house. She’s a really good mother and prioritizes her son, King’s happiness and life above anything else.
This image of the doting mother who spends most of her time at home is not at all I’m sure what comes to mind when you think of Tonto, but that is who the controversial actress outside of all her usual shit-stirring and controversial statements.
5. MC Pashun
MC Pashun who you might know better as Titus from comedy sitcom My Flatmates is an actor and comedian popularly for his hilarious baby voice and stupid persona. The actor has perfected the art of playing dumb, aloof characters always getting themselves in unwarranted trouble.
However in reality, MC Pashun cannot be further from that. In reality, the actor doesn’t even talk at all like you think he does. He speaks very clearly and polished. Also, he’s a lot more quiet and introspective than people think.
In fact, in an interview with GLANCE, he said:
What I can’t do in real life, I do at ease in movies.
Yup. Although he can play that character and do all those stupid things on TV, don’t expect him to just comfortably slip into that stupidity if you saw him in a church or restaurant.
6. Sola Sobowale.
Sola Sobowale is a veteran Nollywood actress known for playing loud, boisterous, powerful women. But in real life, Sola is very reserved, very quiet, and very shy. I know, very shocking. And it’s not only us that think so.
In an interview with Bounce News, co-star Ufuoma McDermott when asked to describe Sola Sobowale described her saying:
Sola Sobowale. Shy. Believe it or not she is shy .
In fact, on the set of The Wedding Party 2, the actress almost had an emotional breakdown because of how overwhelmed she felt by the pressure to deliver another great performance that audiences would love the way they did the first.
This quiet woman who sometimes doubts herself and can be very shy and soft-spoken I’m sure is not the image that comes to mind when you think of Sola Sobowale.
7. Simi
When Simi burst unto the scene with her 2014 hit, Tiff, we were all captivated by her soft voice and tiny frame. Following that and her other songs and music videos like Smile For Me, Jamb Question, and Joromi, the singer quickly became Nigeria’ sweetheart and the descriptive words that became associated with her were “innocent”, “cute”, “soft”, etc.
However in reality, Simi is not only very opinionated, she’s also very stern and cut-throat with her beliefs. Some people were shocked by the persona they got when she started her YouTube page. During interviews, she would sometimes cut people off when they were taking too long to talk, and she wasn’t afraid of going head-to-head with anybody she was debating. In addition, the singer curses and uses profane words when she speaks.
This potty-mouthed, fierce, opinionated feminist might not be the first image that comes to mind when you hear the name, Simi, but that is exactly the kind of person she is.
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