Famous entertainment writer, Osagie Alonge, who works for the Nigerian Entertainment Today, has slammed Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde over a comment she made on social media recently.
Last week, Omotola went on a rant on social media in response to entertainment bloggers who described her 14 year old daughter, Meraiah Ekeinde as ‘hot and sexy’.
The 2013 Time Magazine icon barked at online media, chastising them for visiting her 14-year-old daughter’s Instagram page, culling her photos and spreading them all over the internet.
In his response to Omotola’s rant, here is an excerpt from Alonge’s letter:
“Dear Omotola, I’d like to say that the media has done nothing, absolutely nothing wrong and do not owe you an apology for publicising your daughter’s photos.
You should be the last person pointing fingers, as it clearly shows you’ve scored a ‘D minus’ in raising this cute kid.
“Meraiah Ekeinde is four years away from adolescence but by merely studying her Instagram page, you’d be amazed at the kind of photos a 14-year-old girl puts up – we are talking sexualised selfies, showing off her ‘curves’, pouts, using hashtags like #StaySexy and posting memes containing vulgar language like the word ‘F***’.
“I’m sure Meraiah means no harm and she is in the early stage of youthful exuberance, but, dear Omotola, do you approve of an under-aged [girl] turning up her sexiness in the eye of the public?
Why hasn’t she been cautioned to take down these sexually suggestive photos?
Why is it that you have failed to understand that Meraiah, a minor, has no business trying to act like your fellow desperate Nollywood actresses on social media?
“Instead, you choose to be horrified by the media’s label of ‘hot and sexy’, accusing them of intruding on your ‘poor, little girl’s privacy’.
Madam, you’ve got it all wrong. Are those photos ‘hot and sexy’? Oh my, yes they d*** are! It’s a shame that up till now, these photos haven’t been deleted.
It’s a shame that you’ve asked the media to ‘behave like adults and draw the line’ when you’ve not acted in the same faith.
“In February 2012, US rapper, Nas’ 18-year-old daughter, Destiny Jones posted a box of condoms on her Instagram page. The media community attacked Nas and his baby mama, Carmen Bryan, for the post which was subsequently taken off.
Nas didn’t come out defending his daughter or attacking the media, he rather blamed himself.
“Dear Omotola, you always talk about ‘changing the world’. It’s time to start from your house; clean it up.”
While some commentators have hailed Alonge for his response, others have criticised him, claiming that Omotola’s reaction is very much like that of any ‘sensible parent or guardian’.
The bottom line is that the right thing should be done both on the part of the media and parents on what to put up on social media platforms.