Nigerian singer Zlatan Ibile has shared his candid thoughts on the growing culture of online begging, calling out social media users who constantly seek giveaways from celebrities while also trolling them.
The musician, known for his energetic style and street-savvy lyrics, expressed his frustration over how some individuals dedicate their entire day to hopping from one celebrity’s page to another, soliciting financial help.
“I don’t mean to be petty, but I know how people move on the internet,” Zlatan remarked. “It’s like these people are just there from morning till night, watching your activities and waiting for giveaways. I don’t know the reason, but they always want something. Just this afternoon, I was thinking to myself—are these people just online jumping from one celebrity to the other?”
During his guest appearance on The Drive-Time Show, Zlatan also spoke about his latest music project, but the conversation quickly shifted to his views on social media behavior. He revealed that while he understands that people go through financial struggles, he believes many online beggars are not genuinely in need but rather opportunists looking to exploit famous personalities.
“I can’t talk too much sha before they remind me that I was once there,” he added, alluding to his own humble beginnings. However, Zlatan made it clear that he prefers to help those who are hardworking and striving to build something for themselves rather than giving money to just anyone who asks.
Reflecting on his approach to supporting those in need, Zlatan shared a particular experience where he sought out hardworking individuals to assist. “One particular day, I was wondering how to help, but I didn’t want to just give random people money,” he explained.
Instead, he decided to go through tweets from people discussing their jobs, searching for those who genuinely needed a push. “If I see that you say you’re a tailor, but there’s nothing on your page about it, you must have at least posted about your services,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of showing proof of hard work and dedication.
However, Zlatan also recalled a situation where he had to disqualify a woman in need because of her past behavior towards him. While attempting to help, he conducted a quick background check on the person and discovered that she had trolled him online years ago.
“There was this lady, so I checked her page and searched my name, only to see that she had said something negative about me in 2020,” Zlatan recounted. He explained that although people urged him to forgive her, he felt that she didn’t deserve his help. “People were telling me to forgive her, and it’s easy for people to say. But me, I have the money to give to someone else,” he stated firmly.
Zlatan’s comments have since sparked discussions online, with some agreeing with his stance while others argue that past mistakes should not define whether someone receives assistance. Regardless, the singer remains firm in his belief that people should work towards self-sufficiency rather than relying on celebrities for handouts.
His perspective sheds light on the growing debate surrounding online charity and accountability, highlighting the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own progress. As Zlatan continues to make waves in the music industry, he hopes to inspire his fans to focus on hard work rather than handouts.
