Popular media personality Ifedayo Olarinde, widely known as Daddy Freeze, has revealed that he received death threats for his outspoken criticism of Nigerian Christian clerics.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, where he has replaced comedian Nedu as co-host, Daddy Freeze disclosed that these threats extended to members of his family.
"If there's anybody who has experienced persecution from Nigerian pastors and their minions, it's me. They called me derogatory names. I had death threats that were transferred to my family members. That was 10 years ago," he stated.
Journey to Religious Criticism
Daddy Freeze explained that his critical stance began after his divorce, when he felt rejected by his church. According to him, he was excommunicated from serving in church events and prohibited from sitting in the front row after refusing his pastor's attempt to reconcile him with his ex-wife.
"I felt rejected because Jesus never condemned the woman who had been married five times and was living with a sixth man whom she wasn't married to. I only had one divorce and my church is treating me as if I committed murder," he recounted.
This experience led him to stop attending church and instead delve deeper into studying scriptures in their original languages. "You can't do that work for one year and any Nigerian pastor would make sense to you. It's impossible," he asserted.
Impact of His Criticism
Despite the backlash and threats, Daddy Freeze believes his criticism has had a positive impact on religious accountability in Nigeria. "And the work I did is why you have people standing up today to the church," he claimed, suggesting that his outspoken stance has emboldened others to question religious leaders and demand transparency.
The media personality has been a controversial figure in Nigeria's religious landscape for years, often challenging mainstream religious teachings and practices, particularly those related to tithing and prosperity gospel.
Daddy Freeze recently joined The Honest Bunch podcast as a permanent co-host, replacing comedian Nedu Wazobia, providing him with a new platform to share his perspectives on various social and religious issues.
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