Davido
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has opened up about an early experience with fame that negatively affected his mental health and left him contemplating suicide.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Vibe Podcast, Davido recounted how a lady he accommodated in his hotel room secretly took a photograph of him while he was asleep and shared it on social media, triggering reactions from fans and members of his family.
The singer explained that the incident happened shortly after he became famous, admitting that he was still young, inexperienced and did not understand how to manage fame or set personal boundaries while interacting with women.
Davido said the incident occurred about two months after his breakthrough, at a time when two of his songs were enjoying massive success and his popularity was rising across Africa.
He recalled that after performing at a show in Ghana, he was overwhelmed by the reception from fans and excited by the attention he received from women. According to him, he invited a lady to his hotel room for the first time, but woke up to discover that his manager was trying to calm him down after the lady posted a photograph of him sleeping online.
The singer said the post immediately attracted widespread attention, prompting calls from his father and sisters. He admitted that the pressure became so intense that he briefly contemplated taking his own life. He also acknowledged that he was young at the time and excessively attracted to women.
Davido added that the experience became a turning point in his life, teaching him the importance of protecting his reputation as a public figure and setting clear personal boundaries.