The Miss Nigeria Organisation has disowned the presenter involved in the viral red carpet encounter with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, saying he was not invited to the event and had no affiliation with the organisation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation also apologised to the actress for the discomfort she experienced during the incident at the 46th Miss Nigeria Patrons & Board Dinner.
“First and foremost, we wish to publicly extend our sincerest apologies to Omotola for the discomfort she experienced. She is a deeply valued member of the Miss Nigeria community, a close friend of the organisation, and a woman who has spent decades paving the way for young creatives in this country. She deserves the utmost respect and care,” the statement partly read.
The organisation explained that the Patrons & Board Dinner was a strictly invite-only event, not open to press coverage outside designated channels. It noted that uninvited media presence can sometimes create “impromptu moments where both the guests and the interviewers are caught off guard, as was the case here.”
Following its review of the incident, the organisation emphasised that the circulating clip did not show the full context.
“There were multiple individuals involved who repeatedly invaded Omotola’s personal space, making her feel deeply uncomfortable and unsafe. The clip that has been shared was edited and does not reflect the full extent of what occurred,” the statement added.
The statement further condemned the actions of anyone approaching a guest uninvited, stressing that such behaviour “is completely unacceptable, and we will not stand for it. Omotola was gracious enough to engage in good faith, and that goodwill was taken advantage of.”
The viral video showed Omotola briefly declining to engage with a young presenter who asked her to introduce herself during a live segment. The presenter, appearing inexperienced, asked, “Alright, welcome to 2026 Miss Nigeria dinner. I am currently live with…?”
Omotola appeared caught off guard and questioned his approach, replying, “You are here with who? I should tell you my name? You are not ready.”
When the presenter attempted to clarify, saying he only wanted fans to know who he was with, she responded, “Why should I let fans know me? I am tired,” before trying to walk away. A later clip, however, showed that she eventually granted the interview while seated.
The Miss Nigeria Organisation urged the media and the public to respect event protocols and the privacy of invited guests. It also encouraged viewers to support Omotola by watching her new film, Mother’s Love, with all theatrical proceeds going to Slum2School Africa.
“That is the Omotola we know and celebrate,” the organisation concluded, while thanking attendees for making the 2026 Patrons Ball a success.
(Leadership)
