Entertainment
Family dismisses reports that actress Tope Osoba died of cancer
The family of late Nollywood actress Tope Osoba has dismissed reports claiming that she died of cancer, describing the information circulating on social media and some blogs as false and unverified.
Osoba reportedly died on Tuesday evening, shortly after speaking with some of her colleagues on the telephone and posting “Ogo Tuntun,” meaning “New Glory,” on her WhatsApp status.
Her death came nearly two years after she appealed to the public for financial assistance to undergo breast cancer surgery and treatment, prompting speculation that the illness was responsible for her death.
However, in an official statement shared on the actress’ verified Instagram page on Thursday, her family clarified that cancer was not the cause of her death.
While declining to disclose the actual cause of her passing, the family urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
“We are deeply saddened by the spread of false and unverified reports concerning the passing of our beloved.
“At this difficult time, we wish to categorically state that the numerous claims circulating on social media and various blogs regarding the circumstances surrounding her death are false, speculative and entirely unauthorized,” the statement read.
The family appealed to members of the public to stop sharing misinformation, noting that such reports only deepen the grief they are already experiencing.
It added that further information regarding the actress’ death would be communicated through her official social media page.
Osoba’s death has continued to attract tributes from colleagues, fans and other members of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Entertainment
Mexican influencer shot dead during TikTok livestream
Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum was shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán on Tuesday.
Gastélum, who was known for sharing comedy videos on the platform, was reportedly streaming live with two friends when two men arrived at the scene on a motorcycle.
According to reports, one of the suspects approached the influencer and shot him at close range before fleeing with his accomplice.
Local media reported that police initially believed the victim was a food delivery rider because he and his companions were wearing bright yellow jackets and carrying delivery bags. Authorities later confirmed that the deceased was Gastélum.
Police said no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.
Investigators are examining cartridge casings recovered from the scene and reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to identify the suspects and determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for the attack, and it remains unclear whether the influencer had received threats before he was killed.
Gastélum’s death is the latest in a string of attacks targeting social media personalities in Mexico.
In May 2025, beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok from a beauty salon in Zapopan.
Another influencer, Leobardo Aispuro, popularly known as “El Gordo Peruci,” was also killed in Culiacán in December 2024.
Authorities have continued their investigation into Gastélum’s killing.
Entertainment
A$AP Rocky says Rihanna’s success does not intimidate him
American rapper A$AP Rocky has said he is not intimidated by the immense success and wealth of his partner, Rihanna, insisting that he is proud of her achievements.
Speaking during a recent episode of The Jason CC Show, Rocky said he does not feel entitled to Rihanna’s fortune despite her billionaire status.
According to him, while he may not be a billionaire, he is financially successful in his own right and has no reason to feel insecure because of his partner’s accomplishments.
“My woman got billions, I got multi-millions. Her success isn’t mine. I am proud of my woman. No one can make me insecure because she is richer than I am. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Rocky said Rihanna’s success has never affected their relationship, adding that he celebrates her achievements rather than viewing them as a source of competition.
The couple began dating in 2020 and share three children together: sons RZA, born in May 2022, and Riot, born in August 2023, as well as a daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, born in September 2025.
The celebrity couple have continued to attract public attention for their relationship while balancing their careers and family life.
Entertainment
Bankulli faults Paulo Okoye’s claim that Afrobeats is ‘dead or in a coma’
Grammy-nominated music executive and singer Abisagboola Oluseun, popularly known as Bankulli, has criticised celebrity show promoter Paulo Okoye over his claim that Afrobeats is “dead or in a coma.”
Okoye had sparked debate after suggesting that the genre was facing a decline, blaming the rising performance fees charged by top Nigerian artistes.
In an Instagram post, Okoye wrote: “Afrobeats Is Dead Or Coma 2026. We need to ask ourselves one honest question. Is Afrobeats slowing down, or are we creating a problem for ourselves? Artist fees have gone so high that many promoters no fit book them again. Even big companies and corporate brands are beginning to struggle with these prices.”
Responding in a lengthy post on Instagram, Bankulli described Okoye’s assertion as “faulty,” insisting that Afrobeats remains vibrant and successful.
The music executive argued that the inability of some promoters to book high-priced artistes should not be interpreted as a decline in the genre.
Sharing videos from concerts and events he had worked on over the past two months, Bankulli said they demonstrated that Afrobeats continues to enjoy strong commercial success and audience appeal.
“I saw a post on @pauloo2104’s page saying ‘AFROBEAT IS DEAD OR COMA 2026.’ In my opinion, such a statement is faulty,” he wrote.
“All the clips above happened in the last two months. I do business under the Afrobeats genre, and I can say that neither the genre nor its artistes are dead or in a coma. What we may be experiencing is a shift in musical tastes, which is normal, but making such a statement is not right.”
Bankulli suggested that Okoye’s comments may have been influenced by the increasing costs of booking some of the industry’s biggest stars.
“It is okay if some promoters are finding it difficult to book top-performing artistes, but that should not be used to conclude that Afrobeats is dying,” he said.
He added that while some artistes may have priced themselves beyond the reach of certain promoters, there are many other talented performers with loyal fan bases capable of delivering successful shows.
According to Bankulli, the Nigerian music industry has witnessed a change in its pricing structure, but that does not diminish the global growth and influence of Afrobeats.
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