Speed Darlington Claims Rape Admission Was a Prank to Promote New Song

Controversial Nigerian musician Speed Darlington, also known as Akpi, has made a dramatic U-turn on his recent rape admission, now claiming it was merely a publicity stunt to promote his new song.

The rapper had sparked widespread outrage after confessing during an Instagram live session that he had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl, prompting calls for his arrest and investigation by authorities.

Following the backlash, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) confirmed it had forwarded the case to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further action.

In a new video shared on his Instagram page, Speed Darlington claimed the confession was nothing more than a marketing strategy to generate publicity for his recently released song titled "Village Girl."

"This video is for all of you who are ranging because I said I had sexual encounter with a 15-year-old. I'm an artiste, we need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not going to get booked for shows," he stated in the video.

He further explained his marketing rationale: "I just dropped a song titled, 'Village Girl.' It's about coitus. I don't do Christian music. When we release a song like that, we make sexual content to promote it."

While offering a conditional apology to those offended, the musician doubled down on his controversial approach to publicity, advising aspiring artists: "For intending artists, you have to be controversial. That was what you saw me doing in that video, selling my market."

It remains unclear whether authorities will continue their investigation despite Speed Darlington's claim that his admission was fabricated. The incident has reignited debates about the ethics of publicity stunts and the responsibility of public figures regarding sensitive topics like sexual abuse.

This controversy follows Speed Darlington's recent participation in a celebrity boxing match against fellow musician Portable, which generated significant media attention in Nigeria's entertainment industry.