Nigerian musician Spyro has shed light on the financial and emotional burdens he grapples with daily as a public figure in Lagos. Through an Instagram post, the singer revealed the significant strain he faces in trying to meet the ceaseless requests for financial aid from fans, acquaintances, and strangers alike.
Spyro shared his frustrations, recounting how he was harshly insulted by a man he had promised to assist the following day, simply because he didn’t have funds immediately available. This incident, he explained, is just one example of the entitlement he encounters regularly.
According to the singer, every outing costs him a minimum of ₦100,000 in what he describes as “gifts.” He calculated this expense to amount to roughly ₦15 million annually, a staggering sum he says is driven by societal expectations of celebrities.
“If I enter a restaurant, the bill waits for me outside; I enter the church, the same thing… Enter the estate, the same; carry phone enter online, na the same thing.
“Everybody wants to take, but nobody wants to give, and nobody thinks about how you are faring.
“S/O to every one of my colleagues out there going through this; you’re all the real MVPs and I celebrate you.”
The singer expressed his appreciation for his colleagues who face similar challenges, calling them the “real MVPs.”
The artist lamented that no space offers reprieve from these demands. Whether at restaurants, churches, residential estates, or even on social media, Spyro noted, he is constantly expected to provide financial support. He expressed his frustration that while so many seek assistance from him, few ever consider how he himself is managing.
“It’s really hard being a celebrity in Lagos,” Spyro wrote. “I told a guy I didn’t have anything and would see him the next day. He rained insults on me. Every day I step out of my house, I spend a minimum of N100k on gifts. Now let’s do the maths: let’s say I go out three times a week, that’s N300k per week, making N1.2m per month, and that’s about N15 million a year. Kilode.”
The singer’s candid post wasn’t solely about venting his frustrations. He also took a moment to recognize and empathize
