Controversial Nigerian singer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has apologised after a viral video in which he claimed to have slept with a 15-year-old girl triggered outrage online.

The apology came on Wednesday, May 29, after the disturbing footage sparked public backlash and drew attention from agencies including the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

According to the artistE, the video was not a confession but a publicity stunt aimed at drawing attention to his new song.

“All my followers pissed off about the video I recorded in which I spoke about me sleeping with a 15-year-old, I am an artistE. I need controversy to eat,” he said. “If any of you are offended, it’s alright. Apologies.”

The original video, delivered in Igbo, has since been removed from his page, but not before it sparked anger across social media, with calls for his arrest gaining momentum.

Darlington has a history of controversial online behaviour.

In 2022, he filmed himself holding a knife while accusing two women outside his apartment of harassing him, after one accused him of messaging a 16-year-old girl.

“You want to start messaging a 16-year-old girl, a house girl,” a lady said in the footage.

Again in 2023, the 39-year-old artiste made headlines when he publicly declared he was looking for a second girlfriend between the ages of 16 and 20.

“I just need to do what I did before; go do a show and spend a week in the village after the show,” he said during an Instagram live.

Though known for his comedic and erratic persona, rights groups have insisted that using child abuse as a joke or marketing tool is dangerous and unacceptable.

Meanwhile, public calls for his investigation have intensified under trending hashtags like #ArrestSpeedDarlington and #ProtectOurGirls.

As of the time of filing this report, law enforcement agencies have not issued an official statement on whether he will be investigated or charged.