Television host and media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown has revealed that she recently received an abusive phone call from someone who repeatedly cursed her over the questions she asks guests during interviews, insisting that asking tough questions is simply part of her job.
Speaking in a video shared on her Instagram page on Friday, the host of The Morayo Show and former co-host of Your View recounted the incident, saying she was shocked that someone would go as far as calling her personally to attack her over her work.
“I got a call from somebody who rained curses on me. She said, she said, she said, and so many other unprintable words,” she said.
Afolabi-Brown explained that although she has faced criticism on social media over the years, she has learned to ignore it.
However, she said the phone call was different because the person had direct access to her.
“I’ve been dragged on social media for many years for different reasons. So I don’t read those messages because it’s not my kind of thing. But for somebody to have the privilege of having my phone number and calling me and raining curses on me… what’s my sin? The kind of questions I ask guests or the names I call during my interviews?”
The media personality said she had recently come under criticism over some of the questions she posed to guests, including asking one individual about their experience at a funeral.
Defending her interviewing style, Afolabi-Brown said her decades of experience in broadcasting have earned her the right to ask difficult questions.
“I’ve been in the media for 21 years. I’ve been on television for 12 years, every single day, Monday to Friday, hosting a TV show. There are only a handful of Nigerians who have that experience.
“If there’s anybody in this country that has the right to ask anybody any kind of question, it is I. I’ve earned it.”
She added that she would maintain the same approach regardless of who she interviews, including world leaders.
“If Donald Trump comes here tomorrow, I will ask him whatever the heck I want to ask him.”
Afolabi-Brown also dismissed suggestions that she deliberately puts guests in uncomfortable situations, saying she always respects their preferences before interviews.
“I respect my guests. Some of them, I give them the questions, tell me what they want to answer. Others, I give them a scope. The people that I know I flow with, we flow. I don’t need to ask them any questions. I just say, ‘Don’t go to this area, don’t go to that area,’ and it’s fine.”
She stressed that her programme was created to inspire positivity rather than attack or embarrass guests.
“My show is not for criticising and bashing people. My show is a show where we give love and joy.”
Expressing disappointment over the abusive call, Afolabi-Brown maintained that asking questions is at the heart of journalism and television presenting.
“It’s quite disheartening for somebody to call me and rain curses at me because I asked a question. It’s my job, for heaven’s sake, to ask questions. That’s my job.”
