Real Warri Pikin says sorry to husband and fans after Timaya stage lift

Comedian and actress Anita Alaire Afoke Asuoha, better known as Real Warri Pikin, has apologised to her husband after a viral video showed singer Timaya lifting her during a performance in the United States.

This incident happened on Saturday at the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) festival in Dallas, Texas. Real Warri Pikin won the Best Stand-Up Comedian award that night, while Timaya performed alongside other Nigerian artists.

A video from the event showed the comedian joining Timaya on stage during his hit song, Ukwu. The singer lifted her as part of his act, and the footage quickly spread on social media. Reactions were mixed, with many Nigerians feeling the act was not suitable since she is married.

On Sunday, Real Warri Pikin addressed the situation in a selfie-style Instagram video. She captioned it, "Abeg make Una nor Vex."

She explained how she found herself on stage. According to her, she was backstage enjoying Timaya’s performance when he called for a woman to join him during Ukwu. Caught up in the excitement, she instinctively responded to his call without thinking about the possible consequences.

She became hesitant when she realised Timaya planned to lift her. In the viral video, she can be seen pleading with him not to do it. Eventually, she agreed to the stunt after Timaya insisted she should not interrupt his performance.

Lifting a woman from the audience during Ukwu has become a common part of Timaya’s live shows. This routine has led to viral moments in the past. For instance, during the Gbaramatu Christmas Carnival in Delta State last December, Timaya lost his balance and fell while trying a similar stunt.

Real Warri Pikin mentioned that the backlash after the AFRIMMA video was not just about the performance itself. Some social media users questioned her behaviour as a married woman. She referred to some of these commenters as her "online in-laws". Some even suggested that she should leave her marriage due to the incident.

She rejected that idea and pointed out that there were followers who showed genuine concern, but others went too far. She admitted that her actions were not typical of her and took responsibility for putting herself in that position.

Real Warri Pikin, who often shares details of her marriage and family life online, has been married to Ikechukwu Asuoha since 2013. They have three children together.

The comedian also talked about her husband’s feelings regarding the viral moment, saying he was not happy about what happened. Being in the United States made it harder for her to talk to him directly about it.

In the end, Real Warri Pikin apologised to her husband and to Nigerians who were disappointed by the incident. She insisted that her appearance on stage was spontaneous and not planned ahead of time.

As of now, neither her husband nor Timaya has publicly commented on the issue. This incident somewhat overshadowed an otherwise joyful night for the comedian, who was celebrated as the Best Stand-Up Comedian at AFRIMMA. Her response on Sunday was her first public explanation about the viral encounter.