Veteran entertainer and social commentator, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has revealed that he accepted his two daughters’ decisions to identify as lesbians because he wants them to be happy.
In an exclusive interview with Saturday Beats, Charly Boy addressed the backlash that followed his social media posts about his daughters and defended his parenting philosophy.
He explained that his response to his children’s sexuality had ultimately been guided by love and his belief that adult children could not be controlled by their parents.
He said, “Get it clear, I actually have two daughters who are lesbians. My youngest daughter came out first, years ago, and my eldest daughter came out more recently. When my youngest daughter first told me, it was a hard pill to swallow initially because she hadn’t had children yet, whereas my older daughter had already built a family.
“I was trying to educate people that you have no control over the life of a 50-something-year-old woman. This is the same woman who gave me six grandchildren and a great-grandson. If she decides that she no longer likes men and prefers to be a lesbian, so be it. My only concern is for her to be happy.
“I don’t want to quarrel with my children if I can help it. As long as you’re not bothering me, asking me for money or having a sense of entitlement, it’s all about love.”
“And because I love my children deeply, I adapted quickly. I didn’t want to be an old-fashioned, rigid father; I wanted to be a supportive, open father. As long as they are standing on their own two feet and not asking me for money, their life is their life. At the end of the day, it all comes down to love.”
Asked if he felt bad about his two daughters identifying as lesbians, he said, “Yes and no. Yes, because I would have wished Dominique, like the older one, had her babies before she jumped into this, but she was never married before.”
Charly Boy said his approach to parenting had changed significantly, particularly with younger generations.
“As a parent, I’ve learnt that with millennials and Gen Zs, you don’t tell them what to do; you can only advise them and try to get them to see the logical side of what you’re putting across for them to take, leave or trash. The days of beating and commanding are gone and can’t come back.”
He added that his decision to speak openly about his family was consistent with his personality and the views expressed in his book, ‘999’.
Speaking further about his relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he described him as a friend and father figure.
He said, “We didn’t intentionally set out to build this kind of friendship. It was just something that happened naturally or organically. I’m enjoying it, just like he’s enjoying it. I like very sincere and open people, and he is one of such persons.
“We talk for three or four hours sometimes. You can start imagining what Charly Boy and Obasanjo would be talking about for three or four hours. We talk about religion a lot because I want to know where he stands in the scheme of things. When you hear us discussing in our private space, you’d think I’m talking to my age mate. I’m truly in love with that guy because he’s a correct person.”
He added, “Sometimes, I feel like he’s my father because he talks like my father and does things like my father. Anytime I’m trying to figure something out, I call him, and he helps me sort it out. For friendship, he’s there; for fatherhood, he’s there. We talk every day.”
(Punch)
