http://www.blessingomakwu.com/women-pop-culture/

Now, a Nigerian child that is told that the only suitable career paths for financial freedom are law, medicine and engineering, can say: “But Dad, have you seen Linda Ikeji’s mansion?” For the millions of youth faced with Nigeria’s high unemployment rate, Linda Ikeji’s ability to creat an opportunity for herself in Nigeria, and to patiently grow that opportunity over time is exemplary. Moreover, on the global stage where ‘Nigerian’ is often synonymous with ‘Internet scammer’- it’s a plus to have a Nigerian in the online space providing a counter-narrative.

Linda Ikeji’s content, however, regularly leaves much to be desired. By publishing stories that often leave the subjects humiliated and at the mercy of her notoriously vicious commenters, Linda Ikeji’s blog has contributed to a culture of peddling shame for profit. Her stories and pictures are posted in many instances without consent, context or compassion.

For example, a friend of mine mentioned that she had decided to never again visit Linda Ikeji’s blog, due to a post published earlier in April about a Nigerian-Ghanaian woman who had been kidnapped and allegedly raped. Writing about the woman’s kidnap was not wrong. In fact, with Ikeji’s huge platform, it was probably beneficial. However, rape is an extremely traumatic experience for any woman. In countries like Nigeria, rape carries the additional baggage of extreme stigma. To present this unsubstantiated story to an additional audience, with the woman’s picture and full name, and without her consent, was in poor taste.

Linda Ikeji must necessarily have good lawyers on speed dial, as her journalism practices are also frequently questionable. First, there is the matter of intellectual property violations: several photographers and writers have accused the blogger of using their work without their consent or a reference. For instance, you can read this open letter from the lawyer of photographer ‘Kayode Adegbola here. Linda Ikeji is also no stranger to claims of defamation. Case in point: Nollywood actress Funke Akindele (best known as ‘Jenifa’), threatened to sue the blogger earlier this year for posting a story that was damaging to her brand. You can read about it here.

Increased success must come with increased responsibility. Linda Ikeji could take a pointer from two of the most famous bloggers in the world: Necole Kane and Perez Hilton. Necole Kane, best known by the name of her former blog- Necole Bitchie- ran the most successful ‘urban’ celebrity gossip site in America with over 1.2 million unique users per day. A series of events- including getting sued by Beyoncé for a million dollars after the unauthorized use of her photograph- triggered a low point for Necole. She also began to consider what she wanted her legacy to be. In the November edition of Ebony Magazine, Necole noted that she asked herself time and again: “When all is said and done, what will people say about you? How are you elevating your audience? What are you doing to contribute to your culture in a positive way? ...How are you touching people and changing their lives?” Recently, Necole shut down her existing site, and launched XO Necole: a platform to inspire millennial women through career, travel, lifestyle, fashion and features.

Linda Ikeji need not take such drastic measures however. Enter Perez Hilton: a blogger who became famous for ridiculing celebrities on his gossip site. In an interview with Oprah, he noted that he had a wake up call in 2010 when he was accused of hypocrisy after speaking against teen bullying. The incident caused him to undergo what he describes as a deep spiritual awakening. Perez states that he realized that by putting out toxic stories, he was polluting the world and bringing negative energy into his life. He decided to start talking about celebrities in a less destructive manner. Likewise, Linda Ikeji has the potential to use her platform for positivity and empowerment. A recent blog post by Linda Ikeji doing both of these things gives me hope. Read it here.

But she's making $$$...

The OP is a Hater. Haters gon Hate. They'll see you walk on water and say it is because you can't swim

Haters everywhere
This must be a wasten Blogger

the lady shld be glad that she's doing this in a country where the judiciary is fuccked up. series of law suits would have adjusted her senses

ok

Like seriously?

In som sense ur comment is reasonable however some pple deserve to be ridiculed.

This blogger is saying the truth, please let us be objective!!

This is a country where we don't have good judiciary system in place... So let her shine, she sees the opportunity, and using it well....



If not, chai... Na every month she go dey go court...

.

SLIDEwaxie:
the lady shld be glad that she's doing this in a country where the judiciary is fuccked up. series of law suits would have adjusted her senses

udemzy101:
This is a country where we don't have good judiciary system in place... So let her shine, she sees the opportunity, and using it well....
If not, chai... Na every month she go dey go court...

EoD... But trust people who don't know better to claim "haters"... Even Harvey Levin of TMZ & Sandra of Sandrarose know where to draw the line..... Profitting of people's misfortunes.

IN P-square voice....this life no dey sweet o! If some people no dey hate o! .........

Everyone has an opinion.

modath2:





EoD... But trust people who don't know better to claim "haters"... Even Harvey Levin of TMZ & Sandra of Sandrarose know where to draw the line..... Profitting of people's misfortunes.

Most Nigerians have lost their sense of reasoning....

I hope she improves

Vicotex:
The OP is a Hater.
Haters gon Hate.
They'll see you walk on water and say it is because you can't swim

Everyone that has a different point of view against urs most be tagged "hatters".
Have u visited bellanaija? According to linda, she started blogging after following bellas blog for a long while, yet bella still kips it cool.
Thats an ideal blogger. U dont defame people's character just to make money.
Does she consider how people feels when she makes them sad?
Do u remember the single incident she had with the publisher of "our daily manner"? do u remember how sad she was that she couldn't blog for a while? Do u remember that she said that what the man said against her wasn't true?
Thats how people feels when she attempt that on others.
Remember the golden rule

Wonderful write up!
That girl have it coming!
Now that she has advertised that she has money, watch the buzzards circling.
It's not going to be pretty!

Let us stay objective and not claim people are haters

Okay

Blogging like commenting is free

Go and model your own role

At least this write up was unbiased buh my concern is...like someone rightly pointed out that most of the stories on her blog are been posted on other people's blog and yet linda gets all the bashing. I am not in support of copyright infringement nor peddling falsehood but truth be told, 82% of Nigerian bloggers are guilty of this but for some personal reasons, some people will rather objectify linda rather than addressing the issue at hand and that is the whole point i'm trying to make.

nigerianvenom:
Everyone that has a different point of view against urs most be tagged "hatters".
Have u visited bellanaija? According to linda, she started blogging after following bellas blog for a long while, yet bella still kips it cool.
Thats an ideal blogger. U dont defame people's character just to make money.
Does she consider how people feels when she makes them sad?
Do u remember the single incident she had with the publisher of "our daily manner"? do u remember how sad she was that she couldn't blog for a while? Do u remember that she said that what the man said against her wasn't true?
Thats how people feels when she attempt that on others.
Remember the golden rule

Oooh...don't put Bella Naija's blog in the same league as Linda Ikeji. Bella Naija exudes far more class and sensitivity.

Linda Ikeji blog is for dummies!Salute to BellaNaija

laudate:


Oooh...don't put Bella Naija's blog in the same league as Linda Ikeji. Bella Naija exudes far more class and sensitivity.

U are right on spot. People dont think and act deeply.

SLIDEwaxie:
the lady shld be glad that she's doing this in a country where the judiciary is fuccked up. series of law suits would have adjusted her senses

Shikena

Mod, front page please!!

Y'all have left the convo shouting bellanaija!!

If i may ask, b/w bella naija and linda's blog, who has more traffic, who catches more audience, who set the trends , and who has more refreshing stories?

Y'all just hop in to hate on one's success.

Igbo amaka