OPINION: Why Omawumi Shouldn't Have Walked Out Of That Interview

Omawumi walked out of an interview after the interviewer asked her questions she found inappropriate.

Apparently, Omawumi’s grouse is that the interviewer, Zinnia, shouldn’t be focusing on “rumour” questions. According to Omawumi, Zinnia asking her such questions is malicious and geared towards making her look bad to the viewing public who are her potential customers (to buy her album). Thus, Zinnia doesn’t mean her well.

One thing Omawumi failed to understand is that interviews are primarily a medium for the
interviewee - especially when he/she is a public figure - to right any wrongful information (rumours inclusive) about themselves out there. So, a good interviewer would ask these questions. The reason interviews are set up is for the audience/public to get first-hand information, i.e. hear from the horse’s mouth. Therefore, the interviewer has the obligation both to you (the interviewee) and the audience as he/she is the medium, the arbiter, of credible information. Renowned journalists aren’t afraid to ask those hard hitting questions no matter whose ox is gored. Check out world renowned journalists who have created a niche for themselves as top interviewers whether it is in political interview – Christiane Amanpour, Wolf Blitzer, and David Letterman – or celebrity and lifestyle – Oprah, Wendy Williams, Ellen Degeneres, and Jimmy Fallon. They do not ask what the interviewee, no matter how high and mighty he/she is; comfortable questions, but ask what needs to be known about that person.

You as a celebrity agreed to the interview. Therefore, it is a given that you want to set the record straight and give first hand information you want out there. The interview is a rare opportunity for you to control the narrative about your person and your brand; to make you less vague to your fans and the public. So, you wanting the interviewer to soft pedal and ask only questions you are comfortable with, defeats the aim of the interview. It becomes superficial, a mockery and the interviewer; an a** kisser.

This is not to say that all interviewers are professional journalists. In fact, most of the entertainment OAPs here in Nigeria are not trained journalists. But, I digress. A professional should know how to tactically position and word questions. For failing to do these, I would begrudge Zinnia. Then again, I don’t know if there was an agreement before the interview. Seeing as it’s been reported that Zinnia is someone Omawumi had known for a long time (perhaps why she agreed to the interview), therefore she shouldn’t be asking her questions based on “rumours”. Excuse me Ma, the interview wasn’t for the benefit of Zinnia. It isn’t your normal parlour gist. This is a TV interview for the public and these are rumours you should be eager to clear. “Have you ever seen me smoking” isn’t an answer. Of course Zinna might never have seen you smoke but the question wasn’t for her doubts. It’s for the public who might or might not have believed the rumours. Therefore, a more suitable answer would be to debunk it completely, and not to get all defensive; indirectly making the interviewer feel bad and then storm out. This would only reinforce the rumours. I’d expected Omawumi to reply diplomatically while pointing out her objection to such questions; even buttressing it with the premise that why are female celebrities being placed on a different pedestal than male celebs? Are people bashing male celebs that smoke weed and even brag about it? Is anyone calling out Wizkid or Tuface for having babies upandan? There are a lot of other ways Omawumi could have handled this. Ways that would have scored her more points and emphasise the need for gender equality instead of putting on righteous indignation. She didn’t need to ridicule the interviewer so vehemently; saying “you don’t mean me well” over and over again. Zinnia was only asking to properly inform the public though her word coinage was distasteful and judgemental.

Maybe there was a pre-agreement and Omawumi had requested to be asked only questions pertaining to her forthcoming album. If this was the case and Zina deflected, then Zina is wrong. This is purely a breach of trust. She could have handled it with tact by asking less of the “Did you date Dr. Frabz?”, “Who’s the real father of your child”, “how do you balance your drinking and smoking habits with motherhood” questions. But more “What’s the message to the album”, “How has it been so far taking out time from music to focus on marriage and child”, “What’s the nature of the album” etc. Even if it there wasn’t a pre-agreement and Om