Nigerian comedian and actor, Bovi Ugbomma, has made a u-turn and tendered an apology following his comments on gentle parenting during a recent interview.
Gistreel previously reported that Bovi had encouraged parents to adopt the gentle parenting approach in raising their children. The comedian’s perspective sparked debates across social media platforms, with many disagreeing with his stance.
While speaking on the popular Honest Bunch Podcast, Bovi revealed that he does not beat his children, emphasizing that physical punishment is not part of his parenting style. He recounted a personal incident where his son repeatedly broke their televisions during fits of anger, stating that despite this behavior, he chose not to punish his son physically, opting instead to let him be.
This revelation, however, triggered widespread criticism from Netizens, with many accusing him of enabling indiscipline and raising a child who struggles to control his emotions. Critics argued that his approach could promote unchecked behavioral problems in children.
Reacting to the backlash, Bovi took to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, to apologize for his earlier remarks. In his tweet, he clarified his position, while maintaining his preference for a non-violent parenting style. He reiterated that his upbringing, which did not involve physical punishment, shaped him into the person he is today.
Bovi wrote, “I don go trigger angry people because of the phrase I used. ‘For the fun of it’. Make una no vex. In trying to color my point, I’ve offended a shallow mob. You don’t have to agree with me. If you have children you want to beat, enjoy. My papa no physically beat me and I turned out almost ok.”
Despite his apology, reactions from Netizens have continued to pour in, with many users expressing their disagreement with his views and parenting method. Some commentators accused him of irresponsibly promoting a parenting approach that could lead to unchecked behavioral issues in children.
A user, @Neduzzy, criticized Bovi’s approach, writing, “Breaking TV 3 times is sure sign that you have failed in whatever you are doing in the name of training your child. That’s a high level of anger issues.”
Another user, @winnerbennaba, responded to Bovi’s tweet with sarcasm, saying, “I’m glad you acknowledge that you ‘turned out almost ok.’ Apparently, you’re not totally okay.”
In a similar vein, @DamilareOdulesi weighed in on the discussion, stating, “Except what you said in that podcast was another comedy talk, allowing your kids to keep misbehaving because they are kids is absolutely out of it. If you think that’s the right way to go, that’s your opinion. But for public sanity, we will correct an erroneous opinion.”
The controversy surrounding Bovi’s comments has fueled further debate on social media about the balance between gentle parenting and the need for discipline. While some parents defended Bovi’s stance, arguing that physical punishment is outdated, others insisted that his approach could encourage children to develop behavioral problems.
The debate highlights the growing divide in opinions on modern parenting techniques in Nigeria, with many urging public figures to exercise caution when sharing sensitive views on family and child upbringing. Bovi’s apology has done little to quell the criticisms, as Netizens continue to express their concerns over his parenting philosophy and its implications.
