Popular Nigerian content creator Akinyemi Omotayo, widely known as Asherkine, has dismissed claims that a viral video featuring a canteen worker was staged or scripted. The video, which gained massive attention online, shows the influencer taking a young woman he met at a canteen on a series of surprise outings, including an international trip.
The controversy began after the video circulated widely on social media. In the footage, Asherkine meets a 21 year old woman identified as Chiamaka Clare, who said she worked at a local canteen in Ogun State. During their conversation, she revealed that she had spent Valentine’s Day working, prompting the influencer to invite her on a belated Valentine’s outing in Lagos.
The video shows Clare calling her mother to seek permission before leaving with him. They later travelled to Lagos where Asherkine treated her to a shopping spree, gifts, and dinner at a restaurant as part of the celebration. The surprise continued when he revealed plans to fly her to South Africa, an announcement that left the young woman visibly emotional.
Clips from the trip captured the pair enjoying several luxury experiences including club outings, sightseeing, and a helicopter ride. However, the heartwarming storyline quickly sparked scepticism online, with many viewers questioning whether the entire encounter had been planned in advance.
Some social media users began examining Clare’s online profiles and argued that her lifestyle appeared inconsistent with the image of a typical canteen worker. Posts circulating online claimed she might be a model or interior designer who had previously travelled abroad, which fuelled speculation that the video had been staged for content.
Responding to the criticism, Asherkine took to social media to firmly deny the allegations. He argued that many people simply found it difficult to believe that a young woman who appeared confident and well presented could also be working in a canteen while trying to build a better life.
The content creator also clarified that the events captured in the video did not occur within a single day as some viewers assumed. According to him, the footage was recorded over the course of about a week following their first meeting.
Asherkine further reflected on his journey into content creation, explaining that he began filming entertainers as a teenager while studying at the University of Lagos. Over time, he built a career documenting events and creating lifestyle content that eventually attracted a large following online.
Despite the criticism, the influencer insisted that the controversy will not discourage him from continuing to create videos that showcase acts of generosity and surprise experiences for everyday people.
