Entertainment lawyer and business executive, Oyinkansola Fawehinmi, has revealed the scale of online harassment allegedly directed at Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, and her husband, Adekunle Gold.
Fawehinmi, who is also known as Foza, shared the details during an interview on the JayOnairLive show, where she discussed the legal challenges surrounding cyberbullying and online defamation in the entertainment industry.
According to her, a legal team was required to examine more than 5,000 tweets as part of a sustained online campaign she described as targeted harassment against the singer. She claimed the pattern of messages appeared coordinated and aimed at affecting Simi’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
“We went through over 5,000 tweets of sustained harassment. And the intention was to ensure that Simi becomes a shadow of herself,” she said during the interview. “And mind you, I’m dealing with someone here who has a baby on the way. I’m not going to sit down and let you do that to my clients.”
Fawehinmi further explained that the situation demanded urgent legal attention due to the intensity and repetition of the online attacks, particularly at a sensitive time in Simi’s life when she was pregnant.
She drew a distinction between general online gossip and what she described as cyberbullying, explaining that defamation often involves isolated false statements, while harassment is a continuous pattern of abusive behaviour.
According to her, such online attacks should not be dismissed as harmless entertainment, as they can have serious real-world consequences for public figures.
She noted that beyond emotional distress, sustained online harassment can affect brand relationships, endorsement deals, and public perception.
“When things like this break out, the first thing is that all the brands you’re working with start calling you. You start having to explain yourself,” she added.
Fawehinmi’s comments have since sparked conversations around cyberbullying in Nigeria’s entertainment industry and the need for stronger protections for public figures facing online abuse.
