Nigerian comedian Real Warri Pikin has apologised to Nigerians after a viral moment involving singer Timaya at the 2026 AFRIMMA Awards in Dallas sparked mixed reactions on social media.
The comedian, who was honoured as Best Stand-Up Comedian at the awards ceremony, addressed the controversy after footage from Timaya’s performance circulated online.
Real Warri Pikin explained that the incident happened after Timaya asked for a woman to join him on stage during his performance.
According to the comedian, she initially declined because she did not want to jump onto the stage. However, she eventually joined the singer after he assured her that she would be fine.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Timaya lifted her during the performance.
While the moment was entertaining for people attending the event, reactions online were more divided, with some social media users questioning whether the interaction was appropriate.
Real Warri Pikin apologises to Nigerians
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Responding to the reactions, Real Warri Pikin released a video appealing to Nigerians to be more understanding of what happened.
“Make una take am easy, I beg. I’m sorry. I take full responsibility of my actions,” she said.
The comedian acknowledged that people were entitled to express concern about what they saw but pleaded with Nigerians not to judge her harshly based on the brief stage interaction.
She also explained that the situation was not something she had planned before going on stage.
How the Timaya stage moment happened
Real Warri Pikin said Timaya had asked for a woman to come up during his performance.
She explained that she initially did not want to participate because she was uncomfortable with the idea of jumping onto the stage.
However, after Timaya assured her that everything would be fine, she eventually went up.
The comedian said the moment then became awkward when the singer lifted her during the performance.
What appeared to be a spontaneous entertainment moment at the awards ceremony quickly became a topic of discussion after videos were shared online.
Comedian says she meant no disrespect
Real Warri Pikin also addressed suggestions that the incident represented a lack of respect for her marriage.
The comedian insisted that she had no intention of disrespecting her husband or behaving inappropriately.
She described what happened as an awkward moment that occurred in the middle of an entertaining stage performance.
“I understand where una dey come from. Maybe some people are just genuinely concerned,” she said.
Her comments appeared aimed at reassuring fans and critics who had expressed concerns about the interaction.
‘Some people are making assumptions about me’
The comedian also took issue with reactions that she believes went beyond the incident itself.
According to Real Warri Pikin, some of the comments were based on assumptions about her personality and character rather than what actually happened on stage.
She said the incident did not reflect who she is as a person.
Her explanation comes as the video continues to attract attention across social media, with Nigerians debating whether the interaction between the two entertainers was simply part of a stage performance or crossed a line.
Real Warri Pikin celebrates AFRIMMA achievement
The controversy came during what was otherwise a major career moment for Real Warri Pikin.
She was recognised as the Best Stand-Up Comedian at the 2026 AFRIMMA Awards in Dallas, marking another significant achievement in her comedy career.
The comedian has built a strong following through her stand-up performances, skits and social media content.
Her emotional and energetic style has made her one of the most recognisable female comedians in Nigeria.
The AFRIMMA recognition further highlights her growing influence within African entertainment.
Nigerians react to her explanation
The apology has added another layer to the conversation surrounding the viral footage.
While some people have continued to criticise the comedian, others have urged social media users to move on from the incident and recognise that stage performances can involve spontaneous interactions between entertainers.
For Real Warri Pikin, however, the controversy appears to have been an uncomfortable development during a night that was supposed to celebrate one of the biggest milestones in her career.
By publicly apologising, she has made it clear that she understands why some Nigerians were uncomfortable while maintaining that there was no intention to disrespect her marriage.
As the conversation continues online, the comedian appears keen to put the controversy behind her and focus on her career and recent AFRIMMA achievement.
For now, her message to Nigerians is simple: she understands the concerns, regrets how the moment was perceived and wants people to take it easy on her.
AFRIMMA Official Website
