The year 2026 has had social media in Nigeria lit up with different trending topics. This time around, the conversations are about reality star Phyna, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, and controversial online influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM). Here’s a clear look at what happened and how things escalated to the point of a public rift.
A Friendship That Changed
Big Brother Naija winner, Josephina Otabor, also known as Phyna once had a cordial online relationship with Iyabo Ojo, a well-known actress. Iyabo used to regularly engage with Phyna’s posts by liking and commenting on them on social media. According to Phyna, things were friendly before the events that followed.
The shift began early in January 2026, when Phyna publicly reacted to a post by social media influencer & critic, VeryDarkMan (VDM), who is known for his outspoken views and frequent clashes with celebrities.
The Comment That Sparked the Controversy
The public rift between Phyna and Iyabo Ojo didn’t start fully on its own; it seemed to follow an ongoing period of tension involving Phyna, her family tragedy, and social media reactions. Firstly, in August 2025, Phyna’s younger sister, Ruth Otabor, was critically injured in an accident involving a Dangote Group truck near Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State. She suffered severe injuries, including the loss of a leg, and later passed away from her injuries.
The accident sparked strong emotional responses from the public and from the reality star herself, who criticised how authorities and the company handled the situation, saying they focused on recovering the truck rather than her sister’s care.
At the time, VeryDarkMan (VDM) emerged publicly as one of the voices amplifying Phyna’s calls for justice. He used his large online platform to criticise both the Dangote Group and Nigerian authorities, and to push for accountability for Ruth’s suffering and death. VDM even argued that, because of Dangote’s influence, the family would likely not get justice through courts and instead urged moral pressure on the company.
However, that involvement also led to tension between VDM and Phyna. After initially supporting her and using his platform to draw attention to what happened, VDM later publicly criticised Phyna’s actions and intentions in how she handled the case, accusing her of exaggerating demands and saying she “used” him and the situation. Some netizens even said his comments shifted sympathy away from Phyna’s family.
Fast forward to January 2026, Phyna said in her Twitch livestream that during the recent fallout with Iyabo Ojo, she replied to one of VDM’s posts. She explained that Iyabo and VDM had likely had disagreements in the past, and when she commented on his post, Iyabo misunderstood her intention, saw it as support for VDM, and began to withdraw her support and engagement online. This eventually led to the actress unfollowing the reality TV star on social media. Phyna linked this moment as the start of the social fallout between her and Iyabo. She said in part:
“I feel Mama doesn’t like me that much anymore because before, she used to comment on my posts and like them. Now, she no longer does, and I’m very sure it’s because of that dirty boy. I even went as far as confronting Vee Iyele because of that dirty boy.”
Together, these events surrounding her sister’s tragic accident, VDM’s involvement which was first supportive but later critical and then Phyna’s comment that Iyabo may have misread, have all fed into why the situation spiralled into a larger public drama between Phyna, Iyabo Ojo and VDM.
VDM’s Side of the Story
After Phyna publicly referred to him as a “Very Dirty Boy” and suggested that his involvement contributed to her pulled support from Iyabo Ojo, VeryDarkMan (VDM) responded shortly after on January 14, 2026. He defended himself against being blamed for the fallout. He said his support for Phyna was genuine and that he never sought to gain from their interactions.
VDM said he had assisted Phyna with career advice, promotional support, and personal guidance without expecting anything in return. He expressed disappointment at being labeled negatively and questioned what he could have personally gained from the situation.
VDM also suggested in his response that personal choices and decisions may have played a role in the breakdown of relationships around Phyna, beyond just the social media misunderstanding.
Despite tensions, VDM stated he bears no ill will and wishes Phyna the best in her future endeavors.
The Bigger Picture
Although Phyna’s comments have dominated the conversation around the fallout, Iyabo Ojo has not made any public statement explaining why she unfollowed Phyna or addressing the issue from her own perspective. This silence has left room for speculation, with fans and observers filling in the gaps online.
For many netizens, the situation goes beyond a simple unfollow. Some have cautioned against jumping to conclusions or turning private disagreements into public explanations, noting that social media often escalates issues that could be resolved offline. Others, however, have reacted differently, mocking Phyna and suggesting that her decision to speak out may be driven by a desire to gain attention on Twitch, following the success of creators like Carter Efe who have built strong engagement on the platform.
Overall, the unfolding drama highlights how quickly celebrity relationships can become public discourse, even in the absence of clear statements from all parties involved.
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