Ijeoma Otabor, widely known as Phyna and winner of Big Brother Naija Season 7, has come under fire from fans and social media users over her ongoing public clash with content creators Carter Efe and Davrel.
The disagreement, which began online, has evolved into a wider conversation about Phyna’s public image, with critics questioning how she has managed the situation.
Media personality and social commentator Tosin Silverdam, in a video that has circulated widely, compared Phyna’s recent behaviour with that of previous BBNaija winners, arguing that her actions were hurting her reputation.
He also raised concerns about whether the reality star has a reliable management team or advisers helping to guide her decisions.
According to him, the public exchanges between Phyna and the two content creators had gone too far.
He said, “It’s like Phyna has forgotten that she won Big Brother Naija or something because what is going on with the back and forth she’s having with Carter Efe and one boy like that? Carter Efe saying that she slept with him. She doesn’t respect herself at all. Look at the way these boys are disrespecting Phyna. That other boy is saying her BBL is smelling. She needs class, because at this point, it is really embarrassing.”
Silverdam further criticised Phyna’s public reactions, including her emotional Instagram Live sessions, repeated responses to the allegations, and frequent references to legal action, saying they were doing little to protect her brand.
The controversy escalated after Carter Efe allegedly made claims about his relationship with Phyna, while Davrel also made comments that triggered more reactions across social media.
In response, Phyna addressed the allegations during an Instagram Live session, expressing her frustration before announcing that both men had been served legal documents over a reported N500 million lawsuit. She also demanded that they withdraw their statements.
Despite the legal action, online discussions have largely centred on how the reality star has chosen to handle the dispute in the public eye.
Some social media users argued that her conduct did not match the image expected of a former BBNaija champion.
One Facebook user wrote, “Phyna and drama, she doesn’t rate herself at all, a whole BBNaija winner.”
Another questioned those who supported her during the reality show, writing, “To those of you who voted for this lady to win BBNaija, what did you people see? I’m really curious.”
Others suggested the ongoing controversy could negatively influence how the public views her.
A user, Veralyn, wrote, “People would regard you how you regard yourself.”
Some commenters, however, maintained that winning BBNaija does not automatically alter someone’s character.
“Being a BBNaija winner does not change one’s personality. This is who she is, and BBNaija winner is just a title,” another user stated.
One supporter of the reality star said she should step away from social media for a while to focus on rebuilding her image.
“I love Phyna, but I think she needs to go offline and rebrand. I understand that life has not really been fair to her, but she needs to heal and live for herself,” the fan wrote.
As the debate continues online, some users have also speculated that the entire situation could be a publicity stunt designed to attract attention.