Victoria Mbangwa
Actress Lizzy Anjorin has spoken out after gospel singer Tope Alabi declined to perform at her surprise birthday celebration, a situation that has stirred public controversy.
According to reports, Tope Alabi was initially booked by Lizzy’s fan club, The Warriors, to add glamour to the event. However, the celebrant’s identity was kept a secret until she arrived at the venue. Upon discovering that Lizzy was the guest of honor, Tope and her husband, Soji Alabi, reportedly stayed in the car, refused to perform, and eventually left the venue, returning the payment made for the performance.
In an Instagram video addressing the matter, Lizzy clarified the financial aspect of the arrangement, claiming Tope was paid N4 million for the performance, not the N2.5 million as suggested by other sources. Lizzy expressed frustration over what she perceived as a lack of professional integrity, questioning why Tope had not honored her commitment to perform, given her long career in the industry.
“Aunty Tope, my fans paid you N4 million, and I have the evidence with me. Even if you were paid 500k, were you not an actress?” Lizzy said, pointing to the obligation that actors and performers often have to fulfill agreements, regardless of personal feelings.
Additionally, Lizzy revealed that as a Muslim, she had not expected her fans to invite a gospel singer, as her own preferences leaned toward Islamic artists. She admitted that she does not celebrate birthdays, making the entire event a surprise to her. Despite the surprise being orchestrated by her fans, Lizzy noted she would not have invited a gospel artist herself, had she been in charge of the arrangements.
The fallout also involved filmmaker Oreofe Williams, who acted as a mediator in the booking. Oreofe took to Instagram to share his perspective on the situation, suggesting that Tope and her husband felt deceived by the secrecy around the identity of the celebrant, as well as the handling of the payment.
While Lizzy’s fans are upset by Tope’s refusal to perform, the actress made it clear that she would not be bullied by public opinion, adding that the situation was an unfortunate misunderstanding that overshadowed the goodwill intended by the celebration.
In the end, Lizzy defended her fans’ decision to invite Tope and stressed that, as a professional, she would have hoped the singer would uphold her commitment, regardless of personal views or preferences.
