Iron Chef queen Hilda Baci has whipped up a social media storm hotter than her jollof rice, flaunting her low-key beau as her ultimate “Odogwu” only to face a tidal wave of fan backlash labeling him a straight-up “nobody.”
The 28-year-old Guinness World Record holder for longest cooking marathon, whose culinary empire now spans a thriving restaurant chain and 4.5 million Instagram followers, dropped the bombshell in a sun-kissed couple’s reel on Saturday evening. Captioned “My Odogwu through it all 💙 #Blessed #LowkeyLove,” the video showed Hilda, radiant in a flowing ankara gown, cozied up to her man— a bespectacled, hoodie-clad gent in his early 30s—sharing a quiet beachside laugh over takeout. No flashy rides, no diamond drips; just vibes, a sunset, and her signature glow. “He’s the one who holds the spoon when my arms ache,” she gushed in voiceover, a nod to her relentless grind from Port Harcourt kitchens to global fame.
But the internet, ever the uninvited wedding crasher, had other plans. Within hours, the post ballooned to 1.2 million views, but the comments section devolved into a roast fest worthy of a comedy special. “So na this nobody this girl dey date? Hilda, wey fit get any big boy, choose agbaya wey look like my accountant?” sniped one viral reply from user @NaijaShadeQueen, racking up 15K likes and spawning the hashtag #HildaNobodyOdogwu. Others piled on with memes: Photoshopped edits of the guy as a “budget Odumodublvck” or captioned “When your Odogwu’s superpower is blending into the background.” One cheeky fan quipped, “Odogwu? More like Odog-no-gwu—where’s the squad car? The jet? The vibes are cute, but sis, level up!”
Not everyone’s hating, though. Hilda’s ride-or-dies rallied hard, flooding replies with heart emojis and defenses like, “Y’all mad because he’s real? Not every queen needs a clown prince— this is grown love!” and “Nobody today, billionaire tomorrow. Watch how she turns him into Odogwu Supreme.” The divide highlights Hilda’s post-fame glow-up: From single-mom survivor (she shares a son with ex-manager Isaac Godwin, with whom she split amicably in 2023) to unapologetic romantic, she’s long kept her dating life under wraps. This “flaunt,” though subtle, marks a shift—perhaps inspired by her recent TEDx talk on “Cooking Up Confidence,” where she teased finding peace in privacy.
The “nobody” jabs echo broader Naija celeb scrutiny, from Tiwa Savage’s baby-daddy drags to Tems’ low-profile beau rumors. But Hilda, unfazed as ever, liked a few supportive comments before going radio silent—classic Baci, stirring the pot without spilling a drop. As one supporter nailed it, “Fans: ‘Upgrade!’ Hilda: ‘I am the upgrade.’” In the end, whether he’s a hidden gem or just a guy with great taste in chefs, this reveal proves: Even record-breakers can’t escape the court of public opinion. Pass the tea—or the egusi.