What was meant to be a night of remembrance for late Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo became debatable on social media after the ceremony.
On June 10, friends, family members, colleagues, and fans gathered at the Monarch Event Centre in Lekki for a Service of Songs in honour of the actor. The event featured tributes, worship sessions, prayers, and heartfelt reflections from people who knew him.
However, days later, media personality Daddy Freeze stirred controversy after sharing his thoughts about the event. While explaining why he attended in black despite an all-white dress code, he also criticized several parts of the programme, including the sermon, worship sessions, and performances by gospel singers Nathaniel Bassey and Mercy Chinwo.
His comments quickly sparked reactions, with actors Mofe Duncan and Kunle Remi among those who felt he had crossed a line.
Here is how the controversy unfolded.
A Night Meant To Honor Alexx
The Service of Songs was organised as a celebration of Alexx Ekubo’s life and legacy. Like any traditional funeral service, the gathering focused on worship, tributes, prayers, and memories shared by those who knew the actor personally.
Guests were asked to wear white, a colour often associated with peace, hope, and celebration of life. Throughout the evening, friends and loved ones reflected on Alexx’s impact, while worship songs and tributes filled the hall.
For many of those present, the event was not simply about mourning a loss. It was about celebrating a life that had touched many people. That is why Daddy Freeze’s appearance at the event immediately attracted attention.
Why Daddy Freeze Wore Black
While guests wore white, Daddy Freeze and his wife arrived dressed in black. The choice quickly became a talking point online, leading him to explain himself in a video posted on Instagram.
According to him, he did not see the dress code attached to the invitation sent to his phone and was unaware that guests were expected to wear white. He also apologized to anyone who felt offended by his outfit. He said:
“I wore black because I didn’t see the invite on IG and we don’t follow each other. The invite that was sent to my phone, I didn’t see the dress code at the bottom.
“Where I come from, people wear black to mourn. I don’t understand the white. I thought we were mourning a young man who died when it was not yet his time.”
At that point, many people saw the issue as a simple misunderstanding.
But the discussion did not stop there.
The Comments That Sparked The Backlash
While explaining his outfit choice, Daddy Freeze went on to criticise several aspects of the Service of Songs. He spoke about a worship session led by gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey, who shared that he had planned to visit Alexx with a pastor friend to pray and worship with him before his death.
Freeze questioned the testimony and appeared doubtful about the significance of the prayers. He also criticized a sermon delivered during the event, saying he did not understand why there was a need for preaching at such a gathering.
According to him, reports that four phones were stolen during the event made the sermon even more difficult for him to understand. His strongest criticism, however, was reserved for gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. He continued:
“Later on, Mercy Chinwo climbed the stage and turned the place to a concert. At this point, I got up and went home.
“Do people understand what a funeral is? They could have just played hymns.”
The remarks immediately generated debate online. While a handful agreed with his view that funeral gatherings should be more solemn, others argued that he misunderstood the purpose of a Service of Songs. Freeze also addressed comments made by actor Yul Edochie concerning Alexx’s private life. He said:
“To Yul Edochie that blamed Alex for not showing his wife before he died, what is your business with the wife? Do you want to start dating her? Everything is not clout.”
By the time the video ended, what started as an explanation about a dress code had become a broad criticism of the event itself.
That was where Mofe Duncan stepped in.
Why Mofe Duncan Felt Daddy Freeze Went Too Far
Mofe Duncan did not hide his disappointment. In a lengthy response shared on Instagram, the actor argued that Daddy Freeze had completely misunderstood what the event was meant to be.
“With all due respect Sir… the night wasn’t about You or anyone else but ALEXX.”
According to Mofe, the first mistake Freeze made was treating the gathering as a funeral.
“It was NOT a FUNERAL, it was a NIGHT OF TRIBUTES & A SERVICE OF SONGS.”
He also challenged Freeze’s claim that hymns should have been played instead of worship music.
“HYMNS were sang Sir. Not once… Not Twice.”
Mofe suggested that Freeze may have missed parts of the programme before forming his opinion. Addressing the criticism of Mercy Chinwo’s worship session, he explained that worship was a major part of Alexx’s life. He added that members of Alexx’s inner circle repeatedly spoke during the event about the actor’s love for worship.
“So a ‘concert’ of worship as you expressed is exactly what ALEXX would’ve wanted.”
Mofe also pointed out that Freeze himself did not follow the event’s dress code.
“You wore BLACK to an ALL WHITE celebration of ALEXX’s life.”
But perhaps his strongest point was that the event was never about the personal preferences of guests.
“The night was not about you or your wants, needs or your opinion.”
According to him, Alexx’s loved ones planned the evening around the things that mattered to the late actor, and that should have been respected. His response quickly gained support online and became one of the most talked-about reactions to the controversy.
Kunle Remi, Cross And Other Reactions
While Mofe Duncan chose a detailed response, actor Kunle Remi took a more subtle approach. Reacting in the comment section of a blog post covering the controversy, the actor simply wrote:
“Ecclesiastes 3:7.”
The Bible verse is part of a passage that speaks about seasons in life, including “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” Though Kunle did not explain further, netizens interpreted the comment as a subtle reminder about knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
Mofe Duncan also left a biblical reference of his own:
“Proverbs 16:18.”
The verse, which warns that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, added another layer to the growing debate.
But the reactions did not stop with Nollywood actors.
Former Big Brother Naija star Cross Okonkwo also weighed in on the controversy, openly criticizing Daddy Freeze over his comments about the Service of Songs and his remarks about Christian leaders. In a post on X, Cross wrote:
“Daddy Freeze with due respect sometimes keep your mouth shut. If you don’t know anything about our father Jesus Christ. Don’t talk. And leave men and women of GOD out of your mouth.”
Daddy Freeze did not let the criticism slide. Responding directly, he issued Cross a 72-hour ultimatum and challenged him to prove the healing powers often attributed to pastors. In his response, Freeze wrote:
“My Response To Cross. If Ur Miraculous Pastors Or Their God Can Heal Only 1 Of The 50 Verified Cripple I Will Provide, I’ll Give N50million To You, Or To A Charity Of Your Choice. If You Can’t Then You Should Shut Up!”
He later expanded on the challenge in a video, saying he was willing to provide ₦50 million upfront and raise another ₦50 million from supporters, bringing the total offer to ₦100 million if any pastor could successfully heal one of the individuals he would present.
Freeze also addressed what he expected critics would ask next. While acknowledging that some people might question why he could not perform such miracles himself if he claimed to be a man of God, he argued that he had never presented himself as a healer. According to him, he is a scripture teacher, not someone who performs miracles or healing services.
The exchange with Cross showed how a debate that began with comments about Alexx Ekubo’s Service of Songs had quickly grown into discussions on faith, miracles, church practices, and Daddy Freeze’s longstanding disagreements with popular religious teachings.
Conclusion
What began as a conversation about an all-white dress code quickly became a debate about worship, mourning, and respect.
By criticizing the sermon, questioning Nathaniel Bassey’s testimony, and describing Mercy Chinwo’s worship session as a concert, Daddy Freeze sparked a reaction from people who felt he had misunderstood the purpose of Alexx Ekubo’s Service of Songs.
For Mofe Duncan, Kunle Remi, and many others, the issue was never about whether everyone shared the same view of funerals.
It was about honouring Alexx Ekubo in a way that reflected the life he lived and the things he loved.
And in their eyes, that was exactly what the night was meant to do.
