In a bid to douse brewing tensions in the skit-making community, popular comedian and streamer Shank Comics has publicly debunked whispers of a feud with fellow content creator Peller, affirming their bond as one of mentorship and mutual respect. The clarification comes amid online speculation fueled by subtle social media jabs and fans pitting the duo against each other in the cutthroat world of Nigerian digital entertainment.
Shank, real name Olakunle Church, whose hilarious “Chairman” series has amassed millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, addressed the elephant in the room during a candid Instagram Live session on Saturday evening. “He is my senior colleague,” Shank stated emphatically, referring to the 19-year-old sensation Peller (Habeeb Hamzat), known for his rapid-fire gaming streams and viral pranks that have catapulted him to over 1.5 million followers. “Peller is my brother in this game. There’s no rivalry—people just love to stir drama for engagement. We’ve been supporting each other from day one.”
The rumors ignited last week when eagle-eyed fans dissected a now-deleted tweet from Shank, where he lamented “young guns taking over without paying dues,” which some interpreted as a veiled shot at Peller’s meteoric rise. Peller, who exploded onto the scene at 17 with his FIFA gaming challenges and collaborations with stars like Olamide, had seemingly clapped back in a TikTok stitch, boasting about “outgrowing mentors who can’t keep up.” The exchange snowballed into a full-blown Twitter thread war, with hashtags like #ShankVsPeller trending and netizens drawing parallels to past creator beefs, such as Sydney Talker’s fallout with Brain Jotter.
Shank, 26, who started his career in 2020 with low-budget skits from his Lagos apartment, elaborated on their dynamic during the Live, which peaked at 50,000 viewers. “Peller came before me in the streaming space—he’s the blueprint. I’ve learned from him, and we’ve even talked collabs. This industry is big enough for all of us.” He shared throwback clips of the pair exchanging shoutouts, including Peller gifting Shank a custom gaming setup earlier this year. The session ended on a high note with Shank teasing a joint project: “Watch out for something fire soon—no cap.”
Peller, yet to respond directly, reposted Shank’s Live snippet on his Stories with heart emojis and a simple “Family first 💯,” signaling an end to the speculation. Fans have flooded the comments with relief and memes: “From beef to bromance real quick—Nigerian creators staying winning! 😂” one user wrote, while another added, “Shank calling him senior? Respect level: God tier. #NoRivalryJustVibes.”
This episode highlights the pressures on young creators in Nigeria’s booming creator economy, valued at over $1 billion, where collaborations often outshine conflicts. With Shank’s latest skit hitting 2 million views overnight and Peller’s streams pulling in sponsorships from betting firms, their unity could spawn the next big viral wave.
As the duo proves, in the world of laughs and likes, brotherhood trumps beef every time. Stay tuned for that collab drop—search #ShankAndPeller on X for the latest buzz.