Nigerian singer Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, popularly known as Iyanya, has said male celebrities often find it difficult to recover from low moments because society expects them to stay strong and hide their emotions.
He made the statement on Sunday in a post shared on his official X account, where he reflected on the emotional pressures that come with fame.
The singer noted that celebrities also experience pain and struggles like everyone else but are often judged by the standards of their public image.
“We need to understand that celebrities are human with deep emotions and struggles like everyone else.
Beyond the glamorization is simply a person simply wishing to be human like the rest of us,” he wrote.
Iyanya further explained that male celebrities face even greater challenges because cultural expectations discourage them from showing vulnerability or asking for help.
“For male celebrities, it is always difficult to bounce back after hitting a low point because men are wired to be stoic and not show vulnerability. Not to ask for help for fear of being seen as weak.”
Iyanya rose to fame after winning the first season of Project Fame West Africa in 2008.
Over the years, he has remained a prominent figure in the music industry with hit songs like “Kukere,” “Ur Waist,” and “Sexy Mama.”
