Basketmouth Apologises Again Over Controversial Rape Joke

Basketmouth has cleared the air over his controversial rape joke that got him dropped as an EU ambassador.

The Nigerian comedian Bright Okpocha popularly known as basketmouth had in a Facebook post in 2014 compared dating white girls to dating African women and appeared to recommend rape for members of the latter group who failed to give into a man’s lustful advances after nine dates.

The joke was, however, not well received by several fans of the comedian across the continent which forced him to apologise at the time.

The comedian took to his Instagram page  on Monday night to share photos of women, who he claimed were dear to him and they include his mother, sisters, wife and daughters. He wrote a long caption for the pic and again apologised about the joke.

“Almost every morning in the blogs, on the news, there’s a picture of a man sitting on the floor pleading, the caption is usually in the line of ‘its the devils’ handwork’ and the topic is from underage defilement, rape or brutality against a woman or minor. I live in this same world with my most prized possessions my wife, my two daughters, my sisters and women who have built me into the man I am.

“I was recently presented an opportunity to create awareness on the efforts of the EU to bring support to fighting this scourge, it was a no-brainer for me. I refused any compensation for it and volunteered to lend my voice because… it’s our fight, it’s not for the EU…its for my girls’ future. Unfortunately, a few years ago I shared up a Facebook post that I thought was shedding light through humor to the entitled crude and very present behavioral patterns of some African men who equate spending to sexual favors, but I also realized then that women actually have to face this daily and it’s harrowing and I deeply apologized for it,”.

He went on to praise and thank all women for being who they are and for the sacrifices they make to support men.

“I sincerely pray that this does not take away from the most important fight of our lives….the fight to secure our future…because the girl child is our future. I strongly appreciate the EU for this amazing platform to improve our lot, as long as the message reaches the ears of those who need it, then it’s a win. To every woman – our mothers, sisters, lovers, wives, crowns, supporters, prayer partners, foundation, life…. thank you for being who you are. So many times you sacrifice who you are for a man to become who he wants to be. It’s time we all love and also support you as you do us….cos in your light, we all shine,” he concluded.

His statement is coming days after it was reported that he had been dropped as an ambassador to sex and gender-based violence in the European Union over a joke he made about rape.