Being in the public eye can subject someone’s lifestyle to scrutiny by the public. That’s the price one pays when they become a celebrity. Slip-ups are magnified by the ever hungry media presence not to mention social media warriors and how fast news travels on the medium.
So here are the 10 times celebrities caught up in scandals in 2018.
1. Kobi Kihara
Former NTV presenter Kobi Kihara experienced firsthand the unforgiving force of Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) when it was revealed that a lot of the photos that she had posted on her profile were not originally hers.
Using Google's Reverse Image Search, social media users identified several images of food, shoes and even a baby shared on Kihara's Instagram page which were clearly downloaded from other sources.
The revelations inspired the #KobiKiharaChallenge, a hilarious trend with hundreds of memes on trying to pass off a fake lifestyle.
Amidst the storm, Kihara finally spoke up, apologizing for misleading people.
"I’m sorry to everyone who I misled, forgive me. I should have thought twice, I guess it got away from me. To my friends, thanks for the lovely messages, I’m ok..really. To the bullies it’s ok!
"I can handle being an online punching bag, go for it," she wrote.
2. Eric Omondi
Kenya comedian Eric Omondi landed in trouble after a video surfaced online showing him swimming unclothed alongside children.
Kenyans did not take the video lightly with many expressing their outrage claiming that it is wrong for him to have posted such a video that featured children.
In response, through his social media, Eric admitted that he was on the wrong stating that he did not mean to offend anyone.
"I have been a comedian all my life. Many are the times that I have errored. Today was one of those days. I have offended so many. I did not in any way intend to offend anyone. I am deeply sorry for that," he posted on Instagram.
The anchor was thrown into the limelight after her fiancé was arrested over the murder of Nairobi businesswoman Monica Kimani.
What followed was a month-long detention and dramatic court sessions in an attempt to get her out on bail - her key reason being her young son who she couldn’t take care of while incarcerated.
She was released on a cash bail of Ksh1 Million with three sureties of similar amounts and further directed not to read news relating to the case.
In December she was spotted at Citizen TV studios, with Royal Media Services innovations director Linus Kaikai confirming that Maribe had resumed duties.
4. Mary Kilobi
Following rumours that she was having an affair with COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, KTN News Anchor Mary Kilobi opened up confirming she was madly in love with the seasoned unionist.
Kilobi stamped authority to the rumours maintaining that only death would stand in between their love life.
She dismissed complaints by a Bungoma politician, Jack Wanami Wamboka, who blames the unionist for using his financial muscle to destroy their marriage, denying him a chance to be happily married to the journalist.
“I love Atwoli, he is a caring man who is always there for me. Given another chance, I will still fall in love with him,” the Kiswahili news presenter revealed to the Nairobian.
5. Asbel Kiprop
Three-time World 1,500 metres champion Asbel Kiprop found himself in the wrong when a scandalous video clip of him kissing a woman who wasn’t his wife circulated online.
Kiprop, who is a decorated athlete, in turn accused the woman in the video of destroying his family and career.
The 1,500 metres Olympian who is a police officer stated, “I have lost everything. What else can I lose?”
A close friend of Kiprop alleged that the woman appearing in the video was the wife of a close friend of the champion.
The friend stated, “He has been bitter with his friend and constantly accuses him of taking everything from him. He accused the friend of causing him pain, stating a purported love triangle cost him a career.”
6. Vera Sidika and Otile Brown
The duo started off as love birds, flooding social media with photos of their romance. Vera even featured as Otile Brown’s love interest in the song Baby Love which he sings about disbelievers of their love.
The two pulled of their love for months but it wouldn’t last longer after Vera revealed on her Instagram that Otile had dumped her.
Their break up was not to last long and the two got back together for her birthday trip to Dubai.
It all seemed well until Vera released screenshots of Otile allegedly borrowing money from her to buy a car, adding that the Chaguo La Moyo hitmaker had broken up with her for the second time.
Vera moved to release a song on the relationship titled Nalia.
7. DJ Pinye
In an interview at NRG Radio, DJ Pinye revealed that he never played songs by rappers Khaligraph Jones and DNA in their early days because they made “mediocre music”.
His remarks didn’t go well with a section of Kenyans online who castigated him with many blaming him for not supporting Kenyan musicians especially when they are just starting out.
8. Redsan
Kenyan musician Redsan became a topic of discussion when an audio clip of him beating up his producer Sappy emerged online.
Kenyans shared hilarious reactions to an audio clip of their verbal confrontation that turned physical after Redsan reportedly slapped Sappy.
“I was left wondering why he beat me up yet I hadn’t spoken negatively about him to the press or insulted him,” lamented the producer in a later interview.
9. Willy Paul
Willy Paul is no stranger to controversy with his style of music which critics insist is not gospel.
He released a track titled Sikireti reloaded featuring Jamaican Dancehall queen Cecile which never received a warm reception from Kenyans online.
“Afadhali Gloria angewacha ujitie Kitanzi,” one user quipped.
Earlier, he had been exposed for assaulting a lady at a parking lot, which he claimed was an act for an upcoming reality show.
10. MC Jessy
A video cut from a Churchill Show episode landed comedian MC Jessy in hot water after it appeared to ridicule one Mzee Achoka, who was part of the audience.
Kenyans took issue with the comedian and the cameraman behind the episode's production for depicting the fan as having an ugly face.
The comedian, in his presentation, advised women to find the rare and ugliest men so as to be free from the hustle and bustle of combating 'husband snatchers.'
Several hours after the video went viral, MC Jessy took to his social media to apologise to the comic fan admitting the blame for the joke that went horribly wrong.
"On behalf of the cameraman, producer, Churchill Show family and I, We want to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to Mzee Achoka, his family and Kenyans in general. I don't have any excuses. I take full responsibility for the production of this episode that might have gone in bad taste. I'm really sorry it happened. In future, I promise it won’t happen again," he wrote on his Instagram page.
