Lagos, Nigeria – October 11, 2025 – Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Phyna (Ijeoma Josephina Otabor) has delivered a powerful rebuke to online critics slamming her for hitting the club just weeks after burying her younger sister, Ruth, declaring that “grief has no manual” and demanding respect for diverse healing journeys. In a raw, heartfelt message shared on X (formerly Twitter) today, the 29-year-old reality star addressed the backlash head-on, reminding detractors that pain isn’t performative and silence is the least they can offer if empathy falls short.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced last weekend showing Phyna dancing and laughing at an upscale Abuja nightclub alongside Nollywood actress Regina Daniels and friends, mere weeks after Ruth’s emotional September 13 burial. Ruth, a recent Auchi Polytechnic graduate and mother of three, tragically died in August from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run involving a Dangote Group truck in Edo State, leaving the Otabor family shattered. Phyna, who broke down in tears at the funeral—joined by BBNaija alums like Christy O and Groovy—has been vocal about the ordeal, accusing the company of negligence and underpaying the family just ₦20 million despite public claims of full compensation.
“You can’t tell me how to grieve,” Phyna wrote in her post, which has garnered over 50,000 views and thousands of supportive replies within hours. “Grief has no manual, no fixed face, and no timetable. The fact that I choose to keep living, smiling, or sharing moments does not erase the pain I carry. Respect the process, even if you do not understand it. If you cannot extend compassion, then at least extend silence.” The message, paired with throwback clips of joyful family moments with Ruth, struck a chord, amplifying calls for mental health awareness in celebrity circles where public mourning often becomes spectacle.
The club footage, shared by Phyna herself on Instagram, showed her in high spirits amid pulsing lights and beats—a stark contrast to the somber burial clips that went viral last month. Critics flooded comments with accusations of insensitivity, with one viral tweet reading: “Sister just buried, and you’re out here popping bottles? Heartless.” But defenders, including Daniels—who posted the original video with a caption urging fans to “let Phyna mourn in peace”—pushed back hard. “People grieve differently. If clubbing helps her cope, who are we to judge?” Daniels wrote, echoing sentiments from BBNaija’s Uriel who appealed: “Stop blaming her for what happened—grief isn’t linear.”
Phyna’s clapback has sparked broader conversations on social media, with #GriefHasNoManual trending nationwide. Fans shared personal stories of “happy grief,” from laughing at memorials to dancing through depression, while mental health advocates like the She Writes Woman organization praised her for destigmatizing non-traditional mourning. “This is the vulnerability we need—Phyna’s turning pain into permission for us all,” one supporter commented.
Since her 2022 BBNaija “Level Up” victory, Phyna has navigated highs (brand deals, endorsements) and lows (contract disputes, family losses), emerging as a fierce voice for authenticity. Her sister’s death—compounded by the Dangote saga, where Phyna alleged the firm ignored burial-day calls and pushed for a forced acknowledgment letter—has only amplified her resilience. As she immortalizes Ruth through advocacy (including a planned scholarship in her name at Auchi Poly), Phyna’s latest stand reminds us: Healing isn’t a script—it’s survival.
In a world quick to script sorrow, Phyna’s just dropping the mic: Mourn your way, and let the rest scroll past.
Follow Phyna on X (@unusualphyna) for more unfiltered truths and tributes.