Fame Comes With A Price – Timi Dakolo Warns Aspiring Stars
Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has cautioned those chasing fame to prepare for the harsh realities of public life, noting that celebrities are frequently subjected to baseless online speculation.
His remarks came on Monday after a photo of him carrying a little girl at an event went viral, with some netizens suggesting the child was his love child.
Dakolo clarified that he only held the girl because she refused to go back to her mother, and he ended up looking after her throughout the evening. He described social media as a space where false narratives spread easily.
He also warned aspiring stars that the spotlight makes them vulnerable targets, and advised them to develop emotional resilience to survive the pressures of fame.
He wrote on Instagram:
"I carried a little girl at an event; she just wouldn't go back to her mum. So I parented her all evening. The next thing I saw online, Timi and his love child were inseparable. This space is a mad house."
"Grow a thick skin if you desire fame. You will definitely need it. You can go to bed a happy fellow and wake up with news of you in some mess. And because you are famous, the odds are already against you."
"So people are always looking for someone to drown. Being in the spotlight makes you an obvious target. Grow a thick skin because being famous is a whole lot."