Nigerian Twitter users must have noticed the hashtag #FreeCuppy currently trending at number 2 on Twitter Nigeria trends.
Social media users know very well how celebrities and brands often conduct some sort of giveaways to attract new fans and/or to ‘reward’ their current fanbase. The practice is actually so common that some social users religiously hunt for giveaways on social media by searching for the #giveaway hashtags in a bid to find out what freebies are up for grabs and to participate.
But one celebrity who is not an enthusiast of indulging in social media giveaways is DJ Cuppy born Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola. According to her, the practice is essentially tantamount to buying fans. Here is how she put it:
“To all my Cupcakes that complain I don’t do Money Giveaways, I hear you… BUT I’ve always felt like that was essentially paying people to be your fans? #TeamCuppy”
To all my Cupcakes that complain I don’t do Money Giveaways, I hear you… BUT I’ve always felt like that was essentially paying people to be your fans? ????? #TeamCuppy
— Cuppy #GELATO (@cuppymusic) October 28, 2019
The tweet understandably ignited a debate war on social media, with some for and some against.
“That’s so true! God bless your intelligence and thinking! Help people meaningfully and not giveaways!“, says user deesegh @dedayodav1.
Twitterer Olivia Tim Jacobs @Ebonylivia007 notes that DJ Cuppy is free to do what makes (her) happy. “Sweetheart”, she begins “it’s your money, you worked hard for it and it’s not a crime you came from a wealthy home. Those who love will continue to love you and those who don’t love you won’t even if you giveaway your body organs… Do what makes you happy,” she adds.
Twitter user Ricey @LocalRicey also agrees with that point of view, writing: “It’s life in general not only social media. People must talk no matter the stand you take in life. She should just go ahead and do what pleases her.”
But the vast majority of the singer’s followers disagreed with some calling her stingy.
“Is that how stingy you are?”, asks A N N A B E L. O J O N E @Annie_Perie, “Tomorrow you tell me to stream or subscribe to your YouTube channel… I greet you.”
Phylo Modlin Odu @PhyloOdu also agrees with her, noting: “@Annie_Perie you’re on point. Paying fans or not, a generous person is a generous person and she’s not one. Many of my friends who aren’t so rich or popular at all do giveaways from time to time. I do too.”
Twitterer Vally @Valenvalega’s reaction is to say “we need money to be buying cupcakes every day.”
A user noted Sunshine @Realsimsony opines that “at some point, you really need to give back to society cos they are part of your success story.”
While in Olawhandi @Olawhandy’s opinion, giving back is a way of touching lives and needn’t only be monetary. His words:
“Not true, these people will always have fans they give or not, they are not buying fans they are touching people’s lives. E.g. @DONJAZZY when he gave out those generators. Some of us just need a little push, it doesn’t need to be in the form of money.”
But one reaction that gave DJ Cuppy’s tweet traction was the response by a user identifying as Mazi @ @matthewamad who retweeted the singer’s tweet with a comment. According to Mazi, a giveaway from DJ Cuppy would be a “compensation for the trauma and emotional turmoil we go through enduring your music. We still love you sha. Music or no music. You are adorable.”
No Ma, it is compensation for the trauma and emotional turmoil we go through enduring your music. We still love you sha. Music or no music. You are adorable. https://t.co/wz68Flk8Cw
— Mazi (@matthewamad) October 28, 2019
The retweet went viral with many users chipping in their two kobos, which is mostly to condemn what they interpreted as Mazi being insensitive.
Okokon Emmanuel @Emmy_OffiXial, replying to @matthewamad: “Lol, this is actually insensitive. You sir, just caught your sub.”
Nneka @SheLovesArtemis, replying to @matthewamad: “Ain’t you too old to be unnecessarily rude online? Or is this also regarded as savagery?”
GABRIEL OKONKWO @gimoagapapa, replying to @matthewamad:
“That was harsh! I can’t believe this is coming from Mazi, everyone have the kind of music they enjoy and relax to. It could be torture to your ears and music to mine. Not fair at all sir”
Mazi was mean, and those coming at him are totally understandable, but insinuating that everyone not coming at him are only quiet because they are hoping to benefit from his giveaways, is absolutely a very stupid assumption.
— Cross? (@Elcrucifixio) October 29, 2019
