Davido recalls early fame ordeal after private photo was leaked

Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has recounted how a leaked private photo during the early days of his career left him overwhelmed and taught him a lasting lesson about the realities of fame.

Speaking in an interview titled “Davido Joins The Vibe Q,” published on VIBE Magazine’s official YouTube channel on Thursday, the singer said the incident happened about two months after his breakout songs catapulted him to stardom.

Davido recalled that he had only released two hit songs when he travelled to Ghana for a performance and was surprised by the overwhelming reception he received.

“I have like one song, I have like two records, but these are like the biggest records ever,” he said.

He described the welcome in Ghana as comparable to that of global pop stars.

“It’s like Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber type. So I’m like, yo, we lit,” he said.

According to the singer, his career was growing rapidly, with new achievements almost every week.

“Every week is just something new. I’m excited. I’m like, yo, I’m blowing up every week. We’re going higher in the charts,” he said.

Davido said his first encounter with the downside of fame came after spending time with a woman he met during the trip.

He explained that while he was asleep in his hotel room, the woman allegedly took a photograph of him and shared it with others after they questioned her claim that she was with the singer.

“Apparently she was telling people like, ‘Oh, I’m with Davido.’ They’re like, ‘No, you’re lying.’ And then she took the picture,” he said.

The photo quickly circulated, prompting calls from members of his family.

“My daddy was calling me. My sisters were calling me,” he recalled.

Reflecting on how shaken he felt at the time, Davido said the experience nearly pushed him to a breaking point.

“If I saw a balcony that day, I would have jumped. I was going crazy,” he said, describing the emotional distress he experienced.

The singer said the incident became an important lesson about the challenges of celebrity life, adding that he believes it changed his perspective on privacy and trust.

“You’re young, you’re famous, you’re a target. Even if you want to have fun, take their phones,” he advised.