Nigerian entertainer Speed Darlington has appealed to Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy to withdraw the charges arising from their long-running dispute, offering an apology for remarks he admitted may have caused the singer pain and embarrassment.
In a video posted on his Instagram page on Thursday, November 12, the controversial musician, whose real name is Darlington Okoye, expressed regret over his comments and said he had been wrong to assume that Burna Boy would react to his remarks in the same way other people might.
“Burna, this is an apology video. I apologise for any pain that I have caused you. Any shame that I have caused you,” he said.
He added: “I made the mistake of thinking that everybody vibrates at the same frequency. That’s wrong of me. I apologise, Burna Boy.”
However, Speed Darlington tied his promise to refrain from further comments about the singer’s sexuality to Burna Boy’s willingness to withdraw the charges and allow the matter to end.
“I give you my word that if you withdraw all charges and let everything die, I give you my word that I will never make any direct comment regarding your sexuality. Even indirect comment,” he said.
He also promised to stop mentioning Burna Boy’s name, urging that “Let peace reign.”
The disagreement between the two artistes became public in October 2024 after Speed Darlington questioned Burna Boy’s Grammy Award win for his album, Twice as Tall. He also made insinuations about an alleged relationship between the singer and American music executive Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
Burna Boy subsequently petitioned the police over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking. Speed Darlington was arrested in Lagos on October 4, 2024, and later transferred to Abuja, where he was detained before his release on October 9.
The controversy resurfaced the following month when Speed Darlington was arrested again while performing at a show in Owerri, Imo State. He remained in detention for several weeks before being granted bail in January 2025.
His latest appeal follows an earlier attempt by his lawyer, Stan Alieke, to apologise on his behalf. Speed Darlington subsequently distanced himself from that apology, claiming it had been made on legal advice to facilitate the return of his seized phone.
Although released, the entertainer continued making remarks about Burna Boy and released material directed at the Grammy winner, keeping their disagreement in the public eye.
As of the time of filing this report, Burna Boy had not publicly responded to the latest apology or indicated whether he would withdraw the charges.
Speed Darlington’s latest message could, however, mark an attempt to bring an increasingly prolonged dispute to an end.