How age difference and pride parted 9ice/Payne

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Close friend of 9ice has asserted that the surprise wedding of the musician to Toni Payne was not meant to last as it was basically “a business deal to 9ice”.

Disclosing to RMT in Lagos recently, the artiste manager said the age disparity between the duo was one of the reasons 9ice gave his friends for parting ways with the American-born lady. “9ice never planned to marry Toni, but he hadn’t made much when she showed up in his life, and he wanted to create the image of a good guy.

According to him,” 9ice’s lot changed immediately he came back from the UK after performing at the Nelson Mandela party.

“Before that party though, 9ice had been eager to travel abroad and he practically begged promoters to take him overseas. When the Mandela invitation came, he wasted no time in accepting it. He never even negotiated good money with the promoter and also didn’t rehearse at all. That was why he was tongue-tied when he saw the huge crowd.

“Toni came on the picture after that as she took over as 9ice’s manager. She began by changing his wardrobe, teaching him how to speak in public. She virtually became her manager, a development 9ice never liked as she sidelined his good friend and manager,” he revealed.

With time, 9ice gained confidence and started frolicking with girls, which Toni couldn’t tolerate,” RMT source alleged.

“She also complained that 9ice had become arrogant and proud. The final straw was when 9ice told it to Toni outright just before Xmas that she couldn’t manage him and that she was suffocating him.

“Not to get a bad press, both agreed to part ways amicably, but the truth is, 9ice has got what he wanted from Toni and he now wants to live his life how he has always wanted it”.

When RMT called 9ice, the man that answered his phone said his musician was not ready to speak on the issue for now.

“He has already said he would let the media know what has happened when the time is right. The time is not right for now, we would appreciate it if you guys would let them be,” he said.