BY Daniel Bampoe
In what has become one of the most talked-about viral moments on social media, a Nigerian lady identified as Emmanuella has finally broken her silence after a video of her slapping a man during a public marriage proposal at a wedding went viral.
The incident, which occurred at a friend’s wedding reception, has sparked widespread debate across Nigeria and beyond, with opinions divided over who was at fault.
In the video, the man, identified simply as Ben, had planned a surprise proposal to Emmanuella in front of dozens of guests, hoping to make the occasion memorable.
However, what was meant to be a romantic gesture quickly turned into a shocking scene when Emmanuella, visibly displeased, rejected the proposal and slapped him in front of the stunned crowd.
In a video statement released on social media days after the incident, Emmanuella addressed the controversy, stating that she had been subjected to online harassment and death threats since the video surfaced.
She lamented how people had called her names and painted her as the villain without understanding her side of the story.
“I’ve been trending since, and people are calling me names which I don’t really care about,” she said. “But I’ve been getting death threats, so I want to clear the air.”
When asked if she would apologize to Ben for slapping him, Emmanuella was firm in her response.
“Am I supposed to apologize? Yes. But will I apologize? No. Why won’t I apologize? Because Ben deserved what he got,” she declared unapologetically.
Providing background to the incident, Emmanuella explained that Ben had been asking her out for several months, but she consistently turned down his advances.
Her main reason, she said, was the distance between them. “Ben stays in Port Harcourt, and I live in Lagos,” she explained.
“I told him I can’t do a long-distance relationship. So why would he come and propose to me at someone else’s wedding? Does that really make sense?”
She alleged that Ben’s decision to propose in such a public setting was not an act of love but a deliberate attempt to embarrass her.
“He wanted to disgrace himself, and I disgraced him,” she said. “Now everyone is blaming me for slapping him. He’s the one who brought it upon himself.”
Emmanuella also accused Ben and his friends, identified as Bryan and Edafe, of fueling the backlash against her by spreading the video online.
She claimed that their actions had led to the wave of online trolling and threats she was now facing.
“Ben, can you and your boys — Bryan and Edafe — stop dragging me online?” she said in the video. “Look at my DMs; I’m getting death threats because of you people. If Bryan hadn’t posted that video, would I be receiving those messages? Ben, please, call your dogs and put them on a leash, abeg.”
The viral proposal drama has ignited discussions about public proposals, respect for personal boundaries, and the pressures surrounding social media validation in relationships.
While some believe Emmanuella’s reaction was excessive, others argue that Ben’s approach was insensitive, especially given her prior rejections.
