What began as a routine celebrity shoutout quickly spiraled into a fiery exchange between Nollywood actress Laide Bakare and controversial singer Portable, with both stars airing their grievances online for the world to see.
The drama kicked off when Portable never one to hold back claimed via a viral Instagram Live session that Laide Bakare invited him to perform at a recent event without offering any payment. The self-styled “Wahala Musician” said he felt disrespected and unappreciated, accusing the actress of using his name for clout.
“She called me to perform and didn’t pay. Then she had the nerve to call me ‘that dirty boy from Sango-Ota’ me wey dey help una brand!” Portable fumed.
But Laide Bakare didn’t stay silent. In a strongly worded response on her Instagram Story, the veteran actress fired back, accusing the street-pop artist of clout chasing and twisting the truth.
“Let’s be clear: You were not officially invited. You showed up. Now you want to be paid for what wasn’t agreed? Stop misleading people with your madness,” she wrote.
Fans and followers watched the verbal back-and-forth unfold in real time, with hashtags like #LaideVsPortable and #DirtyBoyFromSango trending briefly on X (formerly Twitter).
Some defended Portable, arguing that entertainers deserve to be compensated regardless of their brand or background. Others stood with Laide, urging celebrities to maintain professionalism and not turn every disagreement into a public spectacle.
“This is not entertainment; it’s embarrassment,” one user tweeted.
“If you weren’t booked, why are you billing?” another wrote under Portable’s video.
Both Laide Bakare and Portable are no strangers to controversy. The actress has previously been in the spotlight for her outspoken takes on industry politics, while Portable has become infamous for his unpredictable behavior, online rants, and ongoing feuds with fellow artists and event organizers.
Analysts say this latest dust-up reflects a deeper tension in Nigeria’s entertainment scene where informal arrangements and blurred expectations often lead to public fallouts.
While there’s no sign of reconciliation yet, sources close to both parties suggest that mutual friends in the industry may step in to calm the situation, especially given their overlapping fan bases and frequent appearances at public events.
Meanwhile, both stars are doubling down on their versions of events, fueling media coverage and social media debate.
As of now, neither side has issued a formal apology or statement indicating a resolution, but if Nigerian celebrity history has taught us anything, this feud may still have more chapters to go.
