Grammy Award-nominated artist, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has tendered an apology over a video showing her seemingly disrespecting legendary Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade.
In the viral video on X, the 21-year-old was seen extending her hands to greet King Sunny Ade at the Afrozobs Pre-Grammy party presented by Heineken.
The incident was labeled as ‘being uncultured’ by netizens who took to social media to criticize the ‘Rush’ crooner.
Reacting to the development, @Omoiyaakeem tweeted, “The fact that Ayra Starr is a Yoruba girl makes this quite disrespectful, no matter how you spin it. She shook his hands like she’s greeting her manager!”
Another user, @Jidekuje, tweeted, “Very mannerless, judging by the fact that she is even Yoruba. How can you shake your elders like that? A whole King Sunny Ade? The sad part is he won’t even want to embarrass her there by ignoring her, as ordinarily, that’s what he should have done in that situation.”
“Haaa, Legendary King Sunny Ade??? Yoruba girl for that matter Naaa, that’s nonsense ❌ She could at least bend a little; no one is asking her to kneel with two knees, but at least that man is not her mate at all. Too bad,” @Oyindapenaddict opined.
Reacting to the backlashes trailing the video, Ayra Star took to her verified X page on Saturday to apologize to King Sunny Ade and the general public.
According to her, she just walked in when the video was taken, and the flashlights made it impossible for her to properly see the people around.
She further described Sunny Ade as a legend and uncle whom she would never disrespect, especially considering she is a Yoruba girl.
She wrote, “😭😭 I’m so sorry , I had just walked in and all the lights and nerves didn’t let me see but i came back around to greet everyone properly, I have never been that girl to be disrespectful, I’m a proper Yoruba girlllll and the video didn’t start until after I’d greeted burna’s mom ! I’m very sorry to the legend, uncle and King Sunny Ade
See the video below.
https://x.com/_kathiiie/status/1751140450214252631?s=46