By Our Correspondent
Nigerian actor and social media personality, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, has urged Nigerians to stop ridiculing male attendees at the GTCO Fashion Weekend over their choice of outfits, warning that online criticism could expose some individuals to harassment and potential danger.
Enioluwa made the appeal in a series of posts on X following widespread reactions to videos showing men in unconventional outfits at the fashion event held in Lagos.
The ninth edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend attracted designers, fashion enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the creative industry.
However, the appearance of some male participants in outfits that challenged conventional ideas of masculine dressing sparked heated debates across social media platforms.
While some users criticised the fashion choices, arguing that they reflected a departure from traditional expressions of masculinity, Enioluwa described the backlash as largely influenced by selective coverage of the event.
He noted that several men attended the gathering in conventional outfits, including shirts and trousers, but attracted little attention compared with those whose appearances generated controversy.
The actor maintained that the event was organised to celebrate fashion and creativity, stressing that attendees should be free to express themselves through their clothing without being subjected to public ridicule.
He also criticised the practice of recording men working in creative professions, such as hairdressing, tailoring and fashion design, and circulating their videos online to generate engagement and provoke negative reactions.
According to him, many of these individuals have spent years building careers in their respective industries and are simply pursuing their livelihoods. He argued that their appearance or profession should not make them targets of public hostility.
Enioluwa further urged content creators and social media users to exercise responsibility when recording and publishing videos of others, particularly individuals who may not understand how their images could be edited, circulated and interpreted by a wider audience.
He advised Nigerians who disagree with another person’s fashion choices to express their opinions respectfully rather than encourage harassment, humiliation or hostility.
His intervention followed criticism of some male outfits at the event, including remarks by former Big Brother Naija housemate, Tokunbo Idowu, popularly known as TBoss, who expressed concerns about what she described as changing expressions of masculinity.
The controversy has since developed into a wider debate about fashion, individual freedom, cultural values, traditional expectations of masculinity and the responsibility of social media users.
Despite the differing opinions, Enioluwa maintained that personal disagreements over fashion should never become a justification for publicly humiliating individuals or putting their safety at risk.
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