Controversy trails AsherKine’s video with Ogun Canteen Worker, Clare

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

Popular Nigerian content creator AsherKine has come under intense scrutiny on social media following a viral video in which he reportedly spent over ₦20 million on a young woman he described as a “random sales girl.”

The video, which has circulated widely across X (Twitter) and Instagram, shows the influencer meeting a woman identified as Clare reported to be Chiamaka Clare, a 21-year-old canteen worker in Ogun State. According to the storyline presented in the content, the pair met while she was working at a roadside food outlet where the influencer stopped to buy food.

In the video, Clare explained that she had spent Valentine’s Day working instead of celebrating, a comment that reportedly prompted AsherKine to offer her a belated Valentine experience.

The encounter subsequently led to a lavish outing documented across several clips. Footage from the video shows AsherKine taking Clare shopping at major fashion outlets including Nike and Zara, among others, before arranging a luxury getaway.

The experience eventually extended beyond Nigeria, with the pair travelling to Cape Town, where activities featured in the video included a helicopter ride, luxury accommodation, and Clare getting a tattoo.

Some users claimed to have located Clare’s personal Instagram account and pointed to posts suggesting she may already have been familiar with luxury experiences, raising doubts about the portrayal of her as an ordinary canteen worker randomly selected by the influencer.

Screenshots of her social media activity quickly circulated across X (Twitter), fuelling speculation that the meeting may have been prearranged or scripted for content creation.

Critics also questioned Clare’s reaction in the video, noting that she appeared unfamiliar with AsherKine despite his popularity online. Others highlighted what they described as unusually strong chemistry between the pair, suggesting it appeared less like a first-time meeting and more like a coordinated interaction.

Further debate emerged around a scene in the video where Clare reportedly called her mother to seek permission before leaving with the content creator. Some online commentators argued that the family’s quick approval for her to travel out of state and later internationally with someone she had just met seemed unlikely.

Additional speculation arose after internet users shared a January post from Clare’s social media page showing what appeared to be a resignation letter, prompting suggestions that the video may have been filmed months earlier rather than recently.

Amid the growing controversy, AsherKine has addressed the allegations, rejecting claims that the encounter was staged.

In a post on X (Twitter), the content creator criticised assumptions about Clare’s background and defended her against online criticism.

“I may understand that a bunch of people cannot fathom a young adult living and working in Ogun State trying to make a way for themselves because she ‘looks too good’ for such a job,” he wrote.

He added that Clare is 21 years old and has family connections in Lagos, noting that travelling between the two states is common.

AsherKine also clarified that the events captured in the viral content did not occur within the short timeframe some viewers assumed.

“I understand that most of my videos span through the progression of a day, but this video spanned over a week after our first meet,” he wrote, adding that he was unsure why some viewers interpreted the video as a “48-hour livestream.”

The influencer also reflected on his personal journey in the creative industry, stating that he began filming entertainers as a teenager while trying to build a career for himself around University of Lagos.

Despite the explanation, debate around the video continues to trend across Nigerian social media, with supporters praising the gesture as an act of generosity while critics maintain skepticism over the authenticity of the viral encounter.