Lagos, Nigeria – October 16, 2025 – In a moment that’s all too relatable for tech-weary social media users, former Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate Gigi Jasmine found herself at the mercy of a rebellious smartphone during a recent Instagram Live session, igniting a wave of sympathetic – and hilariously chaotic – reactions from her online fanbase.
The 31-year-old DJ and influencer, whose real name is Nicole Simon-Ogan, was deep into an engaging chat with her followers when disaster struck. Mere minutes into the broadcast, her phone began to overheat dramatically, forcing an abrupt shutdown that left viewers staring at a blank screen. “It’s not network, my phone decided to be a b!tch and overheat,” Gigi quipped upon rebooting and rejoining the live, her frustration laced with the signature humor that endeared her to BBNaija audiences during her stint in the house last summer.
The Akwa Ibom-born star, who was evicted alongside housemate Victory in late August after captivating viewers with her bold beats and unfiltered personality, didn’t hold back on the plea that followed. “The struggle is real o. You people pray I get gigs, let me go buy myself the iPhone 17,” she urged her fans, half-joking about upgrading to Apple’s yet-to-be-released flagship model. In a cheeky twist, she even tossed in a shoutout to tech-savvy billionaire Blord, suggesting his “version” might do the trick – a nod to the crypto mogul’s reputation for flashy gadgets.
The glitchy episode, which unfolded on October 15, quickly went viral, racking up thousands of views and shares across platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Fans flooded timelines with a mix of empathy, memes, and mock prayers. “Not Gigi asking her fans to pray for her so she can get gigs to buy iPhone 17 cos her phone keeps overheating. The pressure is getting pressured 🤣🤣🤣,” tweeted user @lexia_le, capturing the lighthearted exasperation rippling through the community. Others rallied with practical advice, from cooling tips to crowdfunding quips, while some simply lamented the universal pain of mid-live tech fails.
Gigi, who entered BBNaija S10 – themed “10/10” – as a self-proclaimed “perfectionist” blending Nigerian and American vibes, has been hustling post-eviction with DJ sets, brand collabs, and social media drops. Her candid vulnerability in this instance only amplified her relatability, turning a minor mishap into a bonding moment for her growing fan army. As one supporter posted, “Gigi Jasmine urges fans: ‘Pray I get gigs so I can buy myself an iPhone 17’ as she complains about her overheating phone” – a line that’s now meme fodder gold.
Neither Gigi nor her team has issued an official statement beyond the live rant, but the buzz shows no signs of cooling. In the cutthroat world of influencer life, where every stream counts, this overheating saga serves as a reminder: even reality TV stars aren’t immune to the digital grind. Will prayers manifest that iPhone 17? Only time – and maybe a viral gig or two – will tell. For now, Gigi’s fans are keeping the faith, one heated emoji at a time.