Nigerian singer Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, has blamed the growing visibility of musicians on social media for the decline in fans fainting or becoming overwhelmed when they encounter their favourite artistes.
Rudeboy argued that constant online exposure has stripped celebrities of the mystery that once made them special.
The former P-Square member made the remarks during a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, where he explained that musicians were previously less accessible to the public, making music videos and occasional appearances the primary ways fans could see them.
According to him, platforms such as TikTok have changed that relationship by allowing fans to watch artistes almost every day.
Rudeboy also questioned the value of spending heavily on music videos in the current entertainment landscape, arguing that the constant promotion of artistes on social media has reduced the excitement and anticipation that once surrounded their appearances.
He described the development as one of the negative consequences of the digital transformation of the music industry.
The singer recalled that during P-Square’s active years, fans rarely saw the duo outside their music videos or appearances in different countries. He said the limited access made their public appearances more exciting and contributed to the strong reactions they received from admirers.
According to Rudeboy, the situation has changed because musicians now regularly share content showing their daily activities, including dancing, promoting songs, and interacting with followers online.
Rudeboy illustrated his argument by referring to the late American pop icon, Michael Jackson, suggesting that even the legendary performer might not have received the same reactions if he had been constantly promoting himself through social media content.
“If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint,” he said.
The singer also expressed concern about the expectation that artistes should post content regularly to remain relevant in the digital era. He questioned the need for musicians to share something every day, arguing that excessive visibility could undermine the appeal that comes with being less accessible.
Rudeboy maintained that restoring the era when musicians enjoyed greater mystery would be difficult because social media has fundamentally changed how celebrities interact with their audiences.
He acknowledged that social media had brought positive changes to the music industry but warned that it had also encouraged what he described as “see-finish”, a situation in which excessive familiarity reduces the respect or admiration people have for celebrities.
The singer explained that musicians previously enjoyed greater privacy during outings, particularly in nightclubs, where they often stayed in restricted VIP sections. In contrast, he said, artistes are now frequently filmed by people around them, even when they are engaged in private activities.
