By Our Correspondent
National News – Content creator and social media influencer, Akinyemi Omotayo, popularly known as Asherkine, has responded to claims that his viral “canteen worker” video was staged.
The clip, which went viral across multiple platforms, shows Asherkine surprising a young woman with luxury experiences, including a trip from Ogun State to Lagos and later to South Africa.
Asherkine, known for videos featuring acts of generosity to everyday Nigerians, including cash gifts, shopping sprees, and school fee payments, clarified that the encounter was genuine and not scripted as some social media users suggested.
The viral video featured 21-year-old Chiamaka Clare, who works at a local canteen in Ogun State.
The video shows her first meeting the influencer, following which she was invited on a belated Valentine’s outing in Lagos, including a shopping spree and dinner.
Asherkine also surprised her with gifts and eventually flew her to South Africa, capturing emotional and memorable moments.
After the video circulated online, critics questioned its authenticity, pointing to Clare’s apparent familiarity with luxury experiences and her social media lifestyle, which some said contradicted the portrayal of a random canteen worker.
In response, Asherkine defended the authenticity of the video on X, explaining that Clare’s family connections in Lagos made the interactions plausible.
He also clarified that the video was filmed over a week, rather than in a single day, and emphasized that his content consistently aims to highlight generosity and real-life stories.
The influencer recounted his journey into content creation, beginning at age 17, filming events and entertainers to build his career, which later opened opportunities to work with prominent music artists.
Asherkine’s content has built a significant following, often featuring interactions with everyday Nigerians such as students, street vendors, and transport workers.
The influencer remains committed to producing videos that celebrate generosity, insisting that online criticism will not diminish his work.
