TERRY G DEFENDS BURNA BOY, SAYS SLEEPING FANS SHOULD BE WOKEN ANYWHERE — EVEN IN CHURCH

In a spirited reaction that has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments of the week, Nigerian singer Terry G has stepped forward to defend Burna Boy after a video surfaced online showing a concertgoer dozing off during the African Giant’s performance. The clip, which ignited debates across social media, drew mixed reactions—some insisting the sleepy fan was disrespectful and others arguing that people attend concerts for different reasons and at varying energy levels. But Terry G, never one to shy away from controversy or bold opinions, has now thrown his voice behind Burna Boy in a way that has once again set the internet buzzing.

Speaking in his signature unfiltered style, Terry G questioned the outrage surrounding the incident and compared it to a more familiar, culturally sensitive setting. “Because he’s a secular musician, you are going to his show to sleep,” he said pointedly. “If it happened in a church and someone was found sleeping, would the pastors not ask the ushers to wake them up?” His statement, sharp and rhetorical, immediately reframed the debate and sparked intense back-and-forth among fans, critics, and observers.

For many Nigerians, music concerts and church services sit side by side as two sacred forms of gathering—one spiritual, the other cultural. Terry G’s comparison touched that nerve directly. His argument was simple: if sleeping during a church service is considered unacceptable to the point that ushers are compelled to intervene, then why should a secular concert be treated differently? Why should Burna Boy be criticized because someone chose to snooze during a high-energy performance that thousands of others paid heavily to enjoy?

Social media was quick to respond. Some agreed wholeheartedly, celebrating Terry G for “speaking the truth without sugarcoating it.” They argued that a concert is not a resting place and that basic courtesy demands that attendees stay alert or at least avoid becoming a distraction. If the same standard of alertness is expected in church—a place of solemn worship—then, according to Terry G’s logic, attendees should show just as much respect in a space where an artist is giving his all on stage.

Others, however, pushed back hard, calling the comparison unnecessary and insisting that individuals have the right to experience concerts however they choose. People cited stress, exhaustion, long work hours, and even the unpredictable nature of Lagos traffic as possible reasons for the sleepy fan’s moment of weakness. “You never know what someone is going through,” one commenter argued. “Not everyone has the energy to stand and jump for hours. Maybe the person just needed a moment to sit and breathe.” Still, Terry G’s point about responsibility and respect continued to echo through the conversation.

Burna Boy himself has not publicly addressed the incident, and in typical form, he may not. The Grammy-winning superstar has built a reputation for focusing on his craft and letting the noise roll off his back. But whether he responds or not, Terry G’s statement has shifted the narrative. Instead of simply mocking a fan who fell asleep at a show, the conversation has now turned into a deeper cultural reflection on how Nigerians treat entertainment spaces versus religious spaces, and whether double standards exist between the two.

Terry G, often labeled an “eccentric” or “unpredictable” entertainer, seems unfazed by the reactions. For years, he has been known to speak his mind loudly and without apology. His defense of Burna Boy appears to be rooted not just in loyalty to a fellow artist but also in a belief that performers deserve respect during their craft, regardless of genre. Many older Nigerians recall how churches have long enforced decorum: ushers gently tapping a dozing congregant, a pastor calling attention to those not fully engaged, or a choir intentionally lifting their voices to jolt sleepy worshippers back into the moment. Terry G’s point, though blunt, resonates with that cultural history.

The debate has also reignited discussions about concert culture in Nigeria. As Afrobeats rises globally and Nigerian artists sell out arenas worldwide, the expectations surrounding performances have grown. These shows are no longer casual gatherings—they are highly produced events with intricate stage setups, expensive tickets, and massive fan anticipation. To some, falling asleep during such a performance feels like a waste of a privileged moment. To others, it’s a reminder that concerts are human spaces where anything—excitement, fatigue, overwhelm—can happen.

Meanwhile, Burna Boy’s fanbase, known as Outsiders, has taken the entire situation in stride. Some turned the moment into memes, joking about the intensity of Burna Boy’s sound system or the possibility that the fan simply ate too much before the event. Others defended Terry G’s stance, saying it was only right that someone spoke up against the unnecessary dragging of a top-tier artist. As one supporter put it: “If you are tired, stay at home. Don’t go to a Burna Boy show and sleep. Wakanda nonsense is that?”

Critics have argued that Terry G’s analogy is extreme, suggesting that entertainment spaces should not be held to the same standards as places of worship. Still, even they acknowledge that the comment has forced people to think deeply about respect, cultural expectations, and the unspoken rules that govern public gatherings. It is not the first time Terry G has disrupted a conversation, and it likely will not be the last.

As the conversation stretches across platforms, one thing is clear: Terry G’s defense of Burna Boy has touched a chord. Whether one agrees or disagrees, the statement has highlighted the way Nigerians relate to their artists, their religious spaces, and their entertainment experiences. It has revealed the passion that music inspires and the standards people hold, sometimes inconsistently, for behavior in different environments.

At the center of it all, Burna Boy continues his global dominance, performing to sold-out crowds and adding new milestones to his already impressive career. The incident of the sleeping fan will likely fade quickly, but Terry G’s blunt question—“If it happened in a church, would the ushers not wake them up?”—will live on as one of those viral cultural moments that capture the spirit of public debate in Nigeria.

In the end, whether people see his comment as unnecessary provocation or a burst of honesty, Terry G has once again reminded Nigerians why he remains a fascinating voice in the entertainment scene: unfiltered, unapologetic, and always ready to shake the table.