Content creator Asherkine has responded to criticism over a viral video in which he flew a woman he met at a canteen in Ogun State to South Africa.
The video shows the influencer meeting a 21-year-old identified as Chiamaka Clare while she was working at a local canteen. During their interaction, he asked to speak with her after work and later invited her to Lagos for a post Valentine’s outing after she said she had spent the day working.
Clare was seen calling her mother to seek permission before leaving with him.
The footage shows the pair travelling to Lagos, where she was taken on a shopping spree at several stores and later to a restaurant for dinner. Asherkine also surprised her with gifts while celebrating a belated Valentine’s date.
In another moment captured in the video, the influencer told her he would be flying her to South Africa. Clips from the trip later showed them participating in activities including club outings and a helicopter ride.
Shortly after the video circulated online, social media users began questioning whether the encounter was genuine. Some users claimed the interaction appeared scripted and examined Clare’s social media pages, arguing that her lifestyle online did not match the portrayal of a random canteen worker.
Posts shared online alleged that she works as a model and interior designer and had travelled outside Nigeria before the video.
Reacting to the criticism on X on Tuesday, Asherkine rejected claims that the video was staged.
“I may understand that a bunch of people cannot fathom a young adult living and working in Ogun State, trying to make a way for themselves because she ‘looks too good’ for such a job,” he wrote.
He added that the woman’s family connections in Lagos made the situation believable.
“This person has a sister living in Lagos, it’s a 2 hr drive & She’s 21, I have cousins in Ogun state,” he said.
The influencer also addressed claims that the video was filmed within a short period.
“I understand that most of my videos span through the progression of a day but this video spanned over a week after our first meet. I’m unsure how it looks like a 48hr livestream,” he added.
Reflecting on his career, Asherkine said he began documenting entertainers as a teenager while studying in Lagos.
“I was 17 filming entertainers at events just to ‘chase something’ from UNILAG. I was exactly 20 after grad juggling Ikotun & Chevron to be with Yhemolee, Asake and Ashidapo to document everything I could,” he wrote.
He added that the work later led to opportunities to film music stars including Olamide and Asake.
Asherkine said criticism would not stop him from producing the type of content he is known for.
The 27-year-old has built a large online following through videos in which he surprises strangers with gifts, shopping sprees, school fee payments and other forms of assistance. His content often features everyday Nigerians such as street vendors, students and transport workers.
He has millions of followers across platforms including TikTok and Instagram and frequently partners with brands to fund the giveaways featured in his videos.
