Nigerian singer Simi has come under intense criticism on social media following the confession of a TikToker, Mirabel, who admitted that her widely circulated rape allegation was not true.
The online debate began on February 18 after a video surfaced on TikTok, in which Mirabel claimed she had been raped and injured with a blade inside her home.
The video spread rapidly and triggered outrage, emotional reactions, and heated conversations across the internet.
While many Nigerians initially believed her story and condemned the alleged act, others expressed doubts, pointing to inconsistencies in the video. Some users accused her of clout-chasing, further dividing public opinion.
Amid the controversy, Simi took to X to speak against rape culture. She urged men to hold other men accountable and questioned why people felt triggered when rapists were called out.
Her comments, however, sparked backlash from critics who accused her of ignoring the issue of false rape accusations.
The criticism deepened after an old tweet she made in 2016 was resurfaced and misinterpreted as sexual innuendo. As the backlash grew, a fake apology screenshot began circulating online as a meme mocking the singer.
She was also given the nickname “Ikorodu Celine Dion” by some social media users.
In her statement, Simi insisted that sexual violence against women remains widespread and that false claims should not be used to silence genuine victims.
“Almost every woman I know personally has been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives,” she wrote. “You can’t think it’s okay to shut people up from speaking up about assault because some people lie.”
She added that people who lie should face consequences but stressed that this was not the conversation she was having.
“How many of your male friends have they lied against? How many of your friends have actually assaulted women as vibes? Women are terrified to go out. Women in their homes are not safe either,” she said, ending with: “STOP RAPING WOMEN!!”
The situation later took a different turn after controversial social media activist VeryDarkMan disclosed that he had spoken with Mirabel over the phone.
According to him, Mirabel admitted during the conversation that the rape allegation was false. She also confessed that she created the fake TikTok account that had been sending her messages.
VeryDarkMan said Mirabel pleaded for help, describing herself as lost and helpless.
She further revealed that she is an 18-year-old orphan, a lesbian, and struggles with alcohol and codeine addiction. She also admitted to engaging in self-harm as a coping mechanism.
Appealing to Nigerians, VeryDarkMan urged the public to forgive her and avoid harsh judgment, stressing that mental health challenges are real.
He also disclosed that arrangements were being made to have Mirabel taken to a rehabilitation centre.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that the case has been transferred to Ogun State for further investigation.
The incident has continued to generate strong reactions online, reopening conversations around sexual violence, false allegations, accountability, and the mental health struggles behind viral social media cases.
