Honest Bunch Podcast refutes Nwokolo’s manipulation claims

The Honest Bunch Podcast has responded to accusations of manipulation made by Ugochukwu Nwokolo, the current Mr Supranational Nigeria, following his recent allegations after appearing on the show.

In a statement released on Thursday, the podcast organisers clarified that Nwokolo’s controversial remarks during the January interview were entirely his own and not coerced.

Nwokolo, a model and beauty pageant winner, stated during the show that “poor girls turn me on” and that “the poorer the girl, the more attracted I am to her.”

His comments sparked a public backlash, prompting Nwokolo to later claim that he was manipulated into making such statements for the sake of virality.

He alleged that Nedu, a host of The Honest Bunch Podcast, pressured him into making controversial statements and even coerced him into mentioning a social media personality, VeryDarkMan, to increase the episode’s visibility.

In a recent conversation with YouTuber Lucky Udu, Nwokolo claimed that Nedu told him he would have to pay ₦5 million for his appearance and follow specific instructions to go viral.

However, The Honest Bunch Podcast has refuted these allegations, clarifying that Nwokolo’s appearance on the show was a paid one and that he had complete control over the topic he chose to discuss.

The statement read: “We have become aware of recent claims made by Ugo Nwokolo regarding his appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast. For the sake of clarity, we would like to set the record straight.

“Mr Ugo Nwokolo appeared on our platform for a paid appearance, during which he had the freedom to select a topic of his choice—which he did.

“At no point did we suggest a specific topic to him, nor was he instructed on what to say, either as a team or individually. Furthermore, he was never pressured to discuss any particular issue. He arrived with a notepad outlining his points.”

The podcast organisers also expressed their shock at Nwokolo’s accusations, describing it as “concerning” that someone lacking integrity would represent Nigeria on the global stage as Mr Supranational Nigeria.

“We are truly shocked that someone who lacks integrity and dignity, and is willing to spread falsehoods for fame, has been crowned by the prestigious Mr World Nigeria.

“It is concerning to think that this individual is now set to represent us on the global stage,” the statement read.

They also called on the Silverbird Group and the institution overseeing Mr Nigeria to investigate Nwokolo’s character, stating:

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency and value the diversity of opinions expressed on our platform, regardless of our personal views.

“We kindly ask that the institution and the Silverbird Group look into the character of this man.”

In a related development, Nedu stepped down as the host of The Honest Bunch Podcast on 13 February, citing “unfounded accusations”, as well as the toll on his peace of mind and family, as his reasons.