Singer Inetimi Alfred Odom, popularly known as Timaya, has narrated how being controversial almost killed him.

In an interview with Channels Television, Timaya recounted how his plan to use controversy as a strategy for promoting his music backfired.

The ‘Dem Mama’ crooner stated that the media overstretched the controversy. According to him, this happened at a time when newspapers were in use as there was no internet.

“My being controversial was a strategy but the press took it too far; they wanted to kill me. And back then, it wasn’t the internet; it was newspapers. When they publish it [controversial story], it goes on the street for one week before they publish another one. For that one week, you will be the topic of discussion.

“When you go to buy suya the next week, you will see your face in the newspaper that was used to wrap it. So, it was really hard. And that time, I was the only one causing controversy. People thought I was crazy. My foundation as a Port Harcourt boy also played a role in me being controversial back then.”

Timaya mentioned that every effort to rebrand after his controversial strategy proved futile.

Some of the controversies that Timaya was involved in include retrieving a car gift from his ex-girlfriend, actress Empress Njamah, after their breakup.

He was also reported to have had a feud with producer Nico Gravity years back.

In 2023, his colleague Terry G called him out over alleged debt in music royalties.