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Bobrisky

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Bobrisky
Bobrisky on her birthday
Born
Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju

(1991-08-31) August 31, 1991 (age 33)[1]
Abuja Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materUniversity of Lagos
OccupationSocial media personality
Years active2014 til present

Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (born 31 August 1991), predominantly known as Bobrisky, is a Nigerian social media personality. She is a transgender woman[2][3] known for her presence on the social media apps Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram.[4][5]

Bobrisky has a huge following on social media. She is highly controversial on social media for not adhering to conservative Nigerian standards. She is a visible gender non-conforming person in a country where homosexuality is illegal (see LGBTQ rights in Nigeria).[6][7]

Early life and education

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Born Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju in 1991, Bobrisky attended both King's High School and Okota High School for her secondary school education, and graduated with a BSc degree in accounting from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).[8] Bobrisky was briefly arrested in 2011 for posing as a woman, described as a way to make money for university fees,[9] and sold clothes during university studies.[10]

Career and publicity

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By 2016, Bobrisky had grown a large audience on Snapchat, where she published makeup videos and sold skin whitening creams.[6][11] Progressive commentators have criticized her for promoting skin lightening and misogyny.[11][12] She was interviewed in the 2019 documentary Skin about colorism among Nigerian women.[13]

On Snapchat, Bobrisky also drew attention in 2016 and 2017 by referring to a lover who people assumed to be a man, despite the law in Nigeria that criminalizes same-sex relationships.[14][15] Around that time, Bobrisky asserted to be a heterosexual man who put on a feminine appearance to get more customers for products.[16][8] Bobrisky spoke against same-sex marriage and in support of the law against homosexuality, statements that drew concern from other LGBTQ people in Nigeria.[12][17]

In October 2016, Bobrisky was an invited speaker at a conference in Abuja about uses of social media.[18][19] Nigerian presidential aide Bashir Ahmad publicly withdrew from the event due to Bobrisky's participation.[20][21] In November 2016, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google's Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa, stated that Bobrisky was the most searched individual in Nigeria from 26 October to November of that year.[22][23]

In 2019, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director General of Nigeria's National Council for Arts and Culture, called Bobrisky "a national disgrace"[24] and said she would be "dealt with ruthlessly" if caught on the streets, due to what he called an immoral lifestyle.[25] He continued to criticize her in 2021.[26]

She went viral on TikTok for creating the "Bobrisky" dance in 2021.[27] Bobrisky has also drawn attention through her associations with other Nigerian celebrities, including Tonto Dikeh.[28]

In July 2021, she revealed a new physical appearance after undergoing surgery to become more feminine.[29][30] In 2025, she said she was now "a woman who has undergone everything."[31][3]

In 2022, the Nigerian House of Representatives introduced a bill to prohibit cross-dressing as an amendment to the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, which was noted as potentially impacting Bobrisky if it passed.[32][33] Bobrisky said it would not impact her because she was not a cross-dresser, since she had undergone surgeries to become a woman.[34]

In April 2024, VeryDarkMan petitioned the police to investigate her over alleged public display of homosexuality.[35]

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In early April 2024, Bobrisky was arrested for allegedly defacing naira banknotes, following an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).[36] The charges stemmed from social media videos that appeared to show her throwing money in the air, including at a film premiere the previous month.[36] Money spraying is common at parties, and the law against it is selectively enforced and rarely results in more than a fine.[37][38] Bobrisky entered a guilty plea to four counts of currency abuse on 5 April 2024.[39] The maximum penalty for this offence is six months in prison.[39] On 12 April 2024, Bobrisky was sentenced to the maximum of six months in prison with no option of fine over "abusing and mutilating" Naira notes.[40][41] Bobrisky was released from prison on 5 August 2024.[42][43][44]

In September 2024, VeryDarkMan published an audio recording that he said showed evidence that Bobrinksy had bribed officials to drop money laundering charges and let her serve her prison term in a private apartment.[45] Two prison officials were suspended during investigation of the allegations.[2] She denied the claims, and an investigative panel dismissed the allegations in October 2024.[45] The panel also found that putting Bobrisky in a maximum security prison had been a violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, because she was only a first-time offender.[45]

On 20 October 2024, the Nigeria Immigration Service arrested Bobrisky while she was trying to leave the country through the Seme border, due to being "a person of interest over recent issues of public concern."[46] She spent the night in custody, and on 21 October 2024 she was transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.[47] The EFCC arrested her again when she tried to take a flight to London at the end of October, saying that they needed her to substantiate her recent accusations against them.[48]

In mid-November 2024, Bobrisky sued the EFCC for violation of fundamental rights, including for failing to verify the authenticity of VeryDarkMan's audio recording before calling for public hearings about it that caused harm to her health and reputation.[49] Bobrisky's lawsuit was dismissed by a Federal High Court in Lagos on 28 November 2024.[50] Justice Alexander Owoeye ruled that Bobrisky's "claims of violation of fundamental rights" lacked merit and could not be supported by "credible evidence".[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bobrisky laments over loss of N19m spent on botched birthday". www.pulse.ng. September 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b Wycliffe, Muia (27 September 2024). "Nigeria prison officials suspended over celebrity jail row". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b Amissah, Emmanuel Jacob (25 June 2025). "'Am a woman now, accept it' - Bobrisky". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Why Snapchat king Bobrisky is definitely not Nigeria's Kim Kardashian". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  5. ^ OBIORA, NTIANU (6 November 2018). "How Bobrisky became an unlikely female style icon". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Beauty is pain, says Bobrisky". Vanguard News. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  7. ^ "The pretty, sexy king: The Story of Bobrisky". The Nation Newspaper. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b Bada, Gbenga (10 April 2024). "Bobrisky: Man who dresses and acts like a woman in the eye of the storm". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  9. ^ Onu, Stephen (19 April 2024). "Flashback: Did you know police arrested, paraded Bobrisky in 2011? See why". Premium Times. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  10. ^ Itodo, Sunny Green (28 March 2024). "Why I became a transgender - Bobrisky". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Bobrisky is the Nigerian Millennial we deserve". The Native. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b Cole, Timinepre (22 May 2024). "Bobrisky, LGBTQ+ Rights and the Fallacy of Class Mobility in Nigeria". The Republic. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  13. ^ Samuel, Mofijesusewa (7 July 2020). "Bobrisky Explains Why He Bleached His Skin In Beverly Naya's 'Skin'". Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  14. ^ Abati, Reuben. "10 Nigerian celebrities who became famous for all the wrong reasons - Seun Joseph". Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Watch Bobrisky speak at Abuja conference on how she became famous on social media". Nigeria Today. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  16. ^ Onikoyi, Ayo (26 November 2016). "I can't remain a Muslim because of my make-ups, says Bobrisky". Vanguard News. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  17. ^ Azuah, Unoma (6 May 2021). "Bobrisky: A Mirror for Nigeria?". African Arguments. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Nigerians are upset with BOBRISKY who is speaking at a conference in Abuja this week". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 25 October 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Bobrisky speaks at Abuja conference despite controversies [PHOTOS]". Daily Post Nigeria. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Nigeria's Presidential Aide Withdraws From New Media Conference After 'Male Barbie' Bobrisky Announced As Speaker". Sahara Reporters. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  21. ^ "I Won't Share The Same Podium With Bobrisky - Buhari's Media Aide". The Whistler. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  22. ^ Sesan (18 February 2017). "Cross-dressing: Nigeria's latest social media craze". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Bobrisky, 'Africa's Male Barbie' dominates Google trend". P.M. News. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  24. ^ Itie, Harry (2 September 2019). "Wetin be Bobrisky crime?". bbc.com/pidgin. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  25. ^ Alabi, Temitope (25 August 2019). "'Bobrisky A National Disgrace' — Olusegun Runsewe". Information Nigeria. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Bobrisky: Council for Arts DG, Runsewe, urges parents to guide their children". Premium Times. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  27. ^ OSBC_Admin (6 May 2023). "I Cook With Bottled Water Only – Bobrisky". OSBC | Osun State Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  28. ^ Bless, Nessa (25 August 2024). "Bobrisky Showers Praises On His Former Best Friend, Tonto Dikeh For Dashing Her Money While He Was In Jail". GhanaCelebrities.Com. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  29. ^ Tochukwu Andrew (9 July 2021). "Check Out Bobrisky's New Body As He Transforms Feminine After Surgery! - I Get Talk". Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Bobrisky: Before and After Photos of Nigeria's Famous Gender-Bender". Olisa Blogazine. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  31. ^ Johnson, Hannah (22 January 2025). "I am now a woman, Bobrisky responds to Trump's gender policy". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  32. ^ Majeed, Bakare (5 April 2022). "Cross Dressing: Bobrisky, James Brown, others risk six months jail as Reps move to amend same-sex law". Premium Times. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  33. ^ Omosola, Friday (4 April 2024). "Why police can't arrest Bobrisky, other crossdressers—Force PRO". Premium Times. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  34. ^ Nseyen, Nsikak (10 April 2022). "Bobrisky reacts as Reps move to ban cross-dressing, imprison offenders". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  35. ^ Mosadioluwa, Adam (9 April 2024). "Bobrisky: Verydarkman petitions DIG over alleged public display of homosexuality". Tribune Online. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  36. ^ a b Abubakar, Mansur (4 April 2024). "Bobrisky: Nigerian celebrity arrested for abuse of naira". BBC News. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  37. ^ Asadu, Chinedu (12 April 2024). "A Nigerian transgender celebrity is jailed for throwing money into the air, a rare conviction". AP News. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  38. ^ Kogbara, Donu (16 April 2024). "Opinion: Why break Bobrisky like a butterfly on a wheel?". The Africa Report. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  39. ^ a b Ikulajolu, Adesola (5 April 2024). "Bobrisky: Nigerian internet personality pleads guilty to abuse of naira". BBC News. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  40. ^ Soyele, Olugbenga (12 April 2024). "BREAKING: Celebrity Transgender, Bobrisky, Jailed 6 Months Over Naira Abuse". Leadership News. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Bobrisky sentenced to jail: Which prison dem go keep crossdresser Idris Okuneye?". BBC News Pidgin. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  42. ^ Nseyen, Nsikak (5 August 2024). "Bobrisky released from prison". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  43. ^ Ijeoma, Ijeoma (5 August 2024). "Breaking: Crossdresser Bobrisky released from prison". Dockaysworld. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  44. ^ Nosa, Oke-Hortons (5 August 2024). ""Freedom at last": Bobrisky trends as he leaves Kirikiri prison, video trends". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  45. ^ a b c Kupemba, Danai Nesta (21 October 2024). "Trans socialite did serve her jail term, Nigerian panel finds". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  46. ^ Angbulu, Stephen (21 October 2024). "BREAKING: Immigration confirms arrest of Bobrisky". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  47. ^ Lambo, Deji (22 October 2024). "Bobrisky transferred to FCID, spent night behind bars". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  48. ^ Jannamike, Luminous (1 November 2024). "Why Bobrisky was re-arrested, flown to Abuja - EFCC". Vanguard News. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  49. ^ Omosola, Friday (17 November 2024). "Bobrisky sues EFCC, N/Assembly, demands N1.2 billion, addresses leaked audio". Premium Times. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  50. ^ a b Ogedegbe, Isaiah. "Court dismisses Bobrisky's fundamental rights suit against EFCC". NewsExpress Nigeria. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
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