“Does he realize that same-sex marriage is prohibited in Nigeria?”—Netizens spark debate over Charly Boy’s daughter’s engagement
Nigerian entertainment pioneer Charles Oputa, universally known as Charly Boy (or Area Fada), is once again at the center of a raging public debate after celebrating the engagement of his daughter, Adaeze Oputa, to her female partner.
The maverick icon took to his official Instagram page to share footage from the intimate engagement ceremony, expressing immense joy for his daughter’s new chapter.
In his characteristically bold and supportive style, Charly Boy captioned the video, calling the couple his “beautiful Princess and her Husband,” while urging his followers to shower them with blessings: “My beautiful Princess and her Husband. Folks, wish dem well for me.”
Adaeze also confirmed the milestone on her own social media platform, sharing a celebratory photograph alongside her partner with the ecstatic caption, “WE’RE ENGAGED!” Her announcement featured the hashtag #mrsandmrs, alongside a heartfelt message looking forward to their shared future.
Given Nigeria’s conservative social climate and strict legal stance under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, the announcement immediately triggered an explosion of mixed reactions across social media.
While some progressive commentators applauded Charly Boy for showing unconditional parental love, a massive wave of conservative netizens flooded the comment sections with severe backlash.
The Court of Public Opinion: Top Social Media Reactions
The digital divide was stark, with commentators clashing over legality, parenting, and culture:
The Legal & Cultural Critics:
Netizen Ochuko Kanuhor pointedly asked, “Does he realise that same-sex marriage is prohibited in Nigeria?”
Meanwhile, Gentle’e Salim simply wrote, “God forbid,” and Chi Queen dismissed it as a “crazy family lineage.”
The “Like Father, Like Daughter” Perspective: Some users tied the lifestyle back to Charly Boy’s eccentric persona. Okongwu Ezenwa humorously satirized biblical text, writing, “He really made her in his own image and likeness… come, let us make a daughter in our own image.”
Ali Kunshe echoed this sentiment, stating, “Like father, like daughter, it’s well.”
The Supportive Counter-Voice
Amidst the heavy criticism, some users rushed to offer congratulations. Emeka Carlton commented, “Congratulations to you both, my dear. Don’t mind Nigerians that are still living in the Stone Age.”
Referring to recent local news regarding the entertainer, Williams Comfort Arinola added, “Good decision for changing the name of that bus stop; no good legacy from him.”
As the video continues to circulate, the conversation remains a polarized reflection of the ongoing cultural tug-of-war regarding LGBTQ+ visibility and parental acceptance in Nigeria.
