Nigerian Afrobeats artist Mavo (Oseremen Marvin Ukanigbe) has issued a public apology over old tweets that resurfaced and sparked backlash this week.
In a post on X on September 24, 2026, the 22-year-old singer reflected on his earlier days as an online entertainment critic. He wrote:
“I was a bad entertainment critic when I started uni until I realized superstars don’t really care about Twitter. I stopped criticizing and focused solely on my music, and since then it’s been bliss. My criticism sadly, unfortunately & unintentionally hurt quite a number of people & I’m honestly sorry. I have met most of these people, and they actually turn out to be amazing people. I’m sorry for my misjudgment. Let love lead.” 
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How the Controversy Started
The apology comes after days of online discussion about older tweets by Mavo, where he criticised artists including Davido, Ayra Starr, Erica Nlewedim and others. Some of those earlier tweets were sharp and seemed personal. However, some of the tweets have been deleted.
A comment about Davido in particular drew more attention than others. Replying to someone asking “Wetin de sup with Davido? I’m lost,” Mavo wrote something along the lines of:
“More like attempted murder… he tried to k*II his new baby!” It referenced circulating rumors/allegations at the time related to pregnancies and not the death of his son, Ifeanyi, as many suggested.
Initially, Mavo pushed back, asking critics to “get your life together” and pointing to his own achievements, like running a record label and storefront at 22.
He urged people to stop dissecting his past thoughts, but as the conversation continued, he shifted tone and offered the fuller apology noted above.
Erica Nlewedim’s Response to Mavo’s Apology
One of the more personal exchanges came from Big Brother Naija star Erica Nlewedim. Mavo made tweets about her being “petty,” but a particular tweet that read “I hate this Erica babe Fr fr” resurfaced and gained more attention. Mavo had posted it when she was in the BBNaija Season 5 house in 2020.
Erica quoted the post and replied:
“Lol! Wow! But you were nice to me when we met.”
She later added that not liking her was fine, but interacting warmly in person while holding that view online felt inconsistent. Her response further amplified the conversation around his past online comments.
The apology has drawn mixed reactions from users and fans. Some have accepted the apology, wishing him well. Others have remained sceptical, arguing the statement came only after sustained pressure and that certain earlier comments were never fully addressed.
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