Entertainment

Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has once again dismissed rumours of his death, voicing frustration over what he described as a recurring false narrative that has followed him for years. The iconic actor, widely known as Ebubedike, said he has been falsely reported dead about seven times, describing the repeated claims as unfounded and mischievous. Speaking in a telephone interview with Vanguard on Tuesday, Edochie firmly refuted the latest reports, stressing that he is alive and in good health. “I’m alive and will die only when my maker calls me home,” he said. The 78-year-old actor recounted several past instances when rumours of his death spread, including stories alleging that he died overseas or in a plane crash. “I have been declared dead about seven times. At one ...

A child star, best known for his role in the comedy ‘How to Eat Fried Worms’ has d!ed at the age of 33.  Blake Garrett di£d in Oklahoma Sunday, Feb. 8.  His de@th occurred a week after he was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with shingles, his mom Carol told TMZ.  The actor’s cause of de@th has not been revealed, but his mom fears that it may be accidental. She suspects he may have been self-medicating following his diagnosis. Garrett, from Austin, Texas, played Plug in the 2006 flick ‘How to Eat Fried Worms,’ starring alongside Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg and Adam Hicks in the movie. The cast of ‘How to Eat Fried Worms’ collected the Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film gong at the Young Artists Awards in 2007. Before appearing on the screen, Garrett starred in the theater product...

Canadian rapper Drake lost US$1 million on a Super Bowl bet. Drake revealed on Instagram that he had backed the New England Patriots to win during yesterday’s NFL showpiece game, but their 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks meant he missed out on an estimated return of US$2,950,000. Drake had shared a photo of his bet and wrote: “Bet against me if you dare.” In 2016, he lost a US$60,000 bet to French Montana over the NBA finals, and last year, he bet $1 million on the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, only for them to lose to the Florida Panthers. And before the 2025 Super Bowl, Drake placed a seven-figure sum on the Kansas City Chiefs winning the match, only for them to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022, he lost US$2m after a flutter on a UFC bout when the result went the w...

Cardi B and Stefon Diggs have unfollowed each other following the Super Bowl. Stefon's team, the New England Patriots, faced the Seattle Seahawks in the championship game on Sunday, February 8. The Patriots lost the game and the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the Seahawks, 29-13. Earlier today, reports broke out that the pair had reported that the two have unfollowed each other on Instagram following the Super Bowl, which has sparked speculation about the state of the couple's relationship. A check on the pair's Instagram shows that they appear not to be following each other at the time of writing. Cardi, 33, and Stefon, 32, previously followed each other on Instagram, according to reports. There was a recent report from The Sun that Cardi allegedly had a ster...

American rapper Lil Jon announced that his missing son, Nathan Smith, also known as DJ Young Slade, has di£d. Smith's body was found in a pond near his home in Georgia. In a post on his social media accounts, Lil Jon said that he is "extremely heartbroken" for the tragic loss of his 27-year-old son. "His mother (Nicole Smith) and I are devastated. Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted—he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest," he wrote. He went on to highlight that Smith was an "amazingly talented young man," fostering a career as a music producer, an artist, and an engineer. "We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, a...

Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has spoken candidly about her lingering feelings for her former partner and longtime collaborator, Wizkid. According to Naija News, the singer made the revelation in a video that has since gone viral, admitting that sharing the stage with Wizkid often stirs up intense emotions and memories from their past. Tiwa reflected on their reunion at the Great Lagos Countdown 2025, one of Lagos’ most celebrated annual music events, saying the moment was deeply emotional for her. She explained that seeing Wizkid again reignited feelings she experienced six years ago and that she still finds it difficult to conceal her emotions whenever they perform together. Despite the challenges that marked their past relationship, Tiwa said she often finds herself focusi...

Ace musician, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has added his voice to the ongoing debate comparing singer Wizkid with the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Recalls that Wizkid sparked outrage after claiming he is “bigger” than Fela while responding to Seun Kuti’s criticisms of him and his fans over the comparison of the Ojuelegba crooner with the Afrobeat legend. Reacting in a snippet of the upcoming episode of the Mic On podcast, 2Face described the comparison “ridiculous,” emphasising that that it is both disrespectful to Fela’s legacy and unfair to Wizkid’s career. The African Queen crooner explained that placing Fela and Wizkid side by side ignores their different eras, impacts, and unique contributions to Nigerian music. “Comparing Fela with Wizkid ...

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been accused of authorising extreme punishments, including executions, for citizens caught consuming South Korean entertainment such as the hit series Squid Game, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The human rights group’s findings allege that North Korean authorities have carried out executions against individuals found watching South Korean dramas, listening to K-pop artists like BTS, or accessing foreign media labelled as “reactionary.” Alarmingly, the report claims that even children have not been spared from these harsh penalties. Based on testimonies from defectors, Amnesty says schoolchildren are sometimes forced to witness executions as a deterrent against engaging with banned content. While families with wealth or politica...

Popular Nollywood actress Ajara Lasisi, widely known as Aunty Ajara, has been buried amid tears and prayers. Naija News reports that the petite actress was laid to rest on Thursday in line with Islamic rites, as family members, colleagues, and members of her community gathered to bid her farewell. Videos from the burial ceremony that surfaced online showed mourners standing solemnly around her grave while a Muslim cleric performed the final burial prayers. The burial marked the final goodbye to an actress many described as humble, dedicated, and hardworking, whose impact on Nollywood will not be forgotten. Before her passing, Aunty Ajara had been battling a serious illness. During that period, several Nollywood colleagues, including Wunmi Toriola, Foluke Daramola, Mama Nonetwor...

Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, has tendered a public apology to her colleague, Mercy Johnson Okojie. Recall that on January 27, Angela was arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Center, Abuja, at her Lagos residence over accusations of cyberb#llying Mercy.  She was flown to Abuja and on Wednesday, January 29, was arraigned before the Federal High Court Abuja from where she was remanded in Suleja Prison. The court on January 30, granted her N5 million bail which she perfected on Tuesday, February 3. In a heartfelt video message shared online last night, Angela apologised to Mercy for the derogatory comments she made in the past about her and called for peace between them.  She mentioned that she and Mercy have since spoken to each other. ...