Television host and media personality Morayo
Afolabi-Brown has revealed that she recently received an abusive phone call
from someone who repeatedly cursed her over the questions she asks guests
during interviews, insisting that asking tough questions is simply part of her
job.
Speaking in a video shared on her Instagram page on
Friday, the host of The Morayo
Show and former co-host of Your View recounted the incident, saying she was shocked
that someone would go as far as calling her personally to attack her over her
work.
“I got a call from somebody who rained curses on me.
She said so many unprintable words,” she said.
Afolabi-Brown explained that although she has faced
criticism on social media over the years, she has learned to ignore it.
However, she said the phone call was different
because the person had direct access to her.
“I’ve been dragged on social media for many years
for different reasons. So I don’t read those messages because it’s not my kind
of thing. But for somebody to have the privilege of having my phone number and
calling me and raining curses on me… what’s my sin? The kind of questions I ask
guests or the names I call during my interviews?”
The media personality said she had recently come
under criticism over some of the questions she posed to guests, including
asking one individual about their experience at a funeral.
Defending her interviewing style, Afolabi-Brown said
her decades of experience in broadcasting have earned her the right to ask
difficult questions.
“I’ve been in the media for 21 years. I’ve been on
television for 12 years, every single day, Monday to Friday, hosting a TV show.
There are only a handful of Nigerians who have that experience.
“If there’s anybody in this country that has the
right to ask anybody any kind of question, it is me. I’ve earned it.”
She added that she would maintain the same approach
regardless of who she interviews, including world leaders.
“If Donald Trump comes here tomorrow, I will ask him
whatever the heck I want to ask him.”
Afolabi-Brown also dismissed suggestions that she
deliberately puts guests in uncomfortable situations, saying she always
respects their preferences before interviews.
“I respect my guests. Some of them, I give them the
questions, tell me what they want to answer. Others, I give them a scope. The
people that I know I flow with, we flow. I don’t need to ask them any
questions. I just say, ‘Don’t go to this area, don’t go to that area,’ and it’s
fine.”
She stressed that her programme was created to
inspire positivity rather than attack or embarrass guests.
“My show is not for criticising and bashing people.
My show is a show where we give love and joy.”
Expressing disappointment over the abusive call,
Afolabi-Brown maintained that asking questions is at the heart of journalism
and television presenting.
“It’s quite disheartening for somebody to call me
and rain curses at me because I asked a question. It’s my job, for heaven’s
sake, to ask questions. That’s my job.”
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