Nigerian comedian Bovi Ugboma has ignited a fresh conversation about marriage and divorce after declaring on national television that he celebrates when couples split up, a statement that has since divided opinion across social media.

The comedian made the remarks during an appearance on The Morayo Show, hosted by media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown, where he addressed the subject with characteristic bluntness.

Rather than frame divorce as a failure, Bovi described it as a sign of freedom.

“I celebrate when people get divorced because I feel it means one or both people were not breathing well in the marriage,” he said. “I will not suffer anybody, neither will I want anybody to suffer me.”

For Bovi, the end of an unhealthy union is not something to mourn. He argued that staying in a marriage that causes suffering does more harm than leaving it, and that divorce, in many cases, is the more courageous and compassionate choice.

The comedian also weighed in on gender roles within marriage, pushing back against the idea that financial provision is exclusively a man’s responsibility. He argued that when a woman is driven by personal ambition to contribute financially to her home, that effort deserves recognition rather than dismissal. “If a woman’s passion drives her to provide, her contributions should be recognised and respected,” he said.

Despite his defence of divorce, Bovi was careful not to romanticise marriage as a burden. He reflected candidly on his own 17-year union, acknowledging that it has been far from smooth. “That is not to say my marriage has been easy for 17 years. It has not,” he said. “I got married at 29. I have been providing nonstop for 17 years.”

He also touched on emotional expression, noting that vulnerability is not a weakness unique to women. “Crying is a form of release and it is not gender-based,” he added.
The remarks have split his audience. Many agreed that no one should be trapped in a toxic or joyless marriage, with some applauding Bovi for saying openly what others only think.

Others, however, pushed back, arguing that his framing trivialises the institution of marriage and could encourage people to abandon unions that could be repaired.
Bovi, 46, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost stand-up comedians.

He is married to Kris Asimonye, and the couple have been together for over a decade and a half.