Media strategist, Esther Ijewere, has called out Nollywood actress Dayo Amusa for allegedly copying and sharing her social media post about singer Asake and his family struggles without proper credit.
Ijewere originally posted her reflections on Facebook in the early hours of March 15, sharing insights on Asake’s childhood challenges and the emotional burden of public family disputes.
However, later that same day, Amusa reportedly shared the same post verbatim. Amid the ensuing controversy, she deleted the Facebook version but left the Instagram post unchanged.
Ijewere’s message delved into themes of parental rejection, emotional wounds, and the impact of childhood experiences on an artist’s journey.
She wrote, “I had to dig through before I found this photo of Asake from his GQ feature in April 2024. I was looking for an image that reflected both my emotions as a child and his silent response to the ongoing saga. I once left a comment when he changed his look, covering his face with tattoos. I said he was either rebranding or masking a pain he wasn’t ready to confront.
“The truth about his childhood remains unclear, aside from scattered blog posts, some painting his father in a bad light, others portraying his mother as bitter and harsh. But I am in no position to judge the father who allegedly raised him partially and then abandoned him, nor will I throw his mother under the bus. What I do know is that Asake deserves love from his family, not a public spectacle that leaves him open to criticism.
“In all our hot takes, I hope we remember that beneath the fame, there is a child in this body who likely longs to hear something other than ‘I need money.’ Artists who sing about loneliness or try to detach from vulnerability are often battling deep internal struggles. There’s a void they are trying to fill. Something they crave but cannot seem to find.
“Rejection, especially from a parent, can shape a child’s entire existence. It creates a lifelong battle of defensiveness, a feeling of always being misunderstood. A child who grows up hearing ‘I love you’ moves through life differently than one who hears ‘I don’t want anything to do with you.’
“Some wounds cannot be healed by money, fame, or influence. True healing requires conscious effort from within. We can’t force it on people either.
“You can tell a person to forgive without asking them to forget their lived experience. Rather than judge, I choose to send light and love to this incredible artist. No child should grow up in a world where age and cultural expectations suppress their emotions. Children raised this way often become defensive adults, struggling to express themselves, or they shut people out completely.
“To parents: Please, don’t let the world raise your talented children for you. Be present. Be intentional. Be the voice they hear before the noise of the world tries to define them. A child who feels truly seen and loved at home will have less to prove to the world. I wish him well. Light, always.”
After noticing that Amusa had shared the exact post without attribution, Ijewere took to social media to address the issue publicly.
“Dear Dayo Amusa, You took my post from my Facebook page and shared it as your own on Facebook and Instagram without giving me proper credit. Please, do the right thing and acknowledge my work. It’s important to respect and credit the original creator,” she noted.
Following Ijewere’s reaction, Amusa removed the post from Facebook but left it up on Instagram, despite blogs having already credited her as the author.
Frustrated by the situation, Ijewere expressed hope that Amusa would also take down the Instagram version.
“She has taken down the post on Facebook. Hopefully, she’ll do the same on Instagram. I appreciate the support,” she added.
Amusa later responded in the comment section of Ijewere’s post, denying any wrongdoing and defending her actions.
She explained that she had found the content on a friend’s WhatsApp status and had no idea who the original author was. She also argued that adding “#copied” at the end of her post was enough to indicate she wasn’t claiming credit.
“E dey pain you say I no tag your name abi. Pele baby!!! Like I told you in your DM earlier. I don’t know you, let alone knowing you were the original writer. It was copied from a friend’s WhatsApp, and I even screenshot am for you to see.
“I felt the need to share to a wider audience coz I related so well with the circumstances. I am sure you & your soldiers aren’t blind to see the #copied at the end of the post, meaning I take no credit to the post.”
Seemingly unbothered by the backlash, Amusa further mocked the situation, writing, “How market? Enjoying the gbasgbos? Have fun and enjoy it while it lasts.”
Despite the online exchange, Amusa has yet to formally acknowledge Ijewere as the original author of the post.
