Nigerian singer and controversial entertainer, Speed Darlington, has apologised to Grammy-winning musician Burna Boy, appealing to him to withdraw the legal charges against him and bring their prolonged dispute to an end.
Speed Darlington, whose real name is Darlington Okoye, made the appeal in an apology video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday.
In the video, the entertainer expressed regret over his previous remarks about Burna Boy, admitting that his comments might have caused the singer emotional pain and embarrassment.
Addressing Burna Boy directly, Speed Darlington acknowledged that he was wrong to assume that everyone would respond to provocation in the same manner.
“Burna, this is an apology video. I apologise for any pain that I have caused you. Any shame that I have caused you. I made the mistake of thinking that everybody vibrates at the same frequency. That is wrong of me. I apologise, Burna Boy,” he said.
However, the apology came with a condition, as Speed Darlington asked Burna Boy to withdraw all legal charges before he would completely end his comments about the singer.
He promised not to make direct or indirect remarks about Burna Boy’s sexuality if the musician agreed to let the matter go.
“I give you my word that if you withdraw all charges and let everything die, I will never make any direct comment regarding your sexuality. Even indirect comments. I will no longer try to sustain it. I give you my word. Let peace reign,” he stated.
Speed Darlington further promised that he would never mention Burna Boy’s name again if both parties reached an agreement to end their disagreement.
How Speed Darlington’s Feud With Burna Boy Started
The disagreement between the two entertainers began in 2024 after Speed Darlington questioned Burna Boy’s Grammy Award achievement and made insinuations about his relationship with American music executive Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category at the 2021 Grammy Awards with his album, Twice as Tall, which was executive-produced by Diddy.
Following the achievement, Speed Darlington questioned the circumstances surrounding the award and made provocative comments about the relationship between the two entertainers.
In one of his viral videos, he held a bottle of baby oil while making remarks about Diddy and Burna Boy.
He subsequently released a diss track titled Baby Oil, further escalating the controversy and attracting widespread attention on social media.
Speed Darlington’s Arrests and Legal Battle
The disagreement eventually extended beyond social media after Burna Boy petitioned the police over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking.
Speed Darlington was arrested in Lagos on October 4, 2024, before being transferred to Abuja, where he was detained.
He was released on October 9, 2024, but the controversy resurfaced the following month when he was arrested again while performing at a show in Owerri, Imo State.
His second detention lasted several weeks before he was eventually released on January 21, 2025, after meeting his bail conditions.
Despite his release, Speed Darlington maintained a defiant position, declaring in January 2025 that he was not afraid of returning to prison and would continue creating content surrounding the Baby Oil controversy involving Burna Boy.
Mixed Reactions Trail Speed Darlington’s Apology
His latest apology has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some interpreting the video as a genuine attempt to make peace with Burna Boy.
Others, however, have questioned the sincerity of the apology, particularly his decision to make it conditional on the withdrawal of the legal charges.
The development represents a potential turning point in the prolonged disagreement between the entertainers.
As of the time of filing this report, Burna Boy had yet to publicly respond to Speed Darlington’s appeal or indicate whether he would withdraw the charges.