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Pop star Ayra Starr has drawn harsh criticism over her response to online calls for empathy following mass killings in Benue. Her “we're not in the same room” comment ignited outrage as Nigerians mourn over 200 lives lost.
  • Ayra Starr posted a lighthearted tweet during the ongoing Benue tragedy.
  • A fan called her out for being tone-deaf; Ayra replied, “We're not in the same room, babes.”
  • The backlash grew swiftly, with many branding her response “insensitive.”
  • Ayra later defended herself, saying she was being bullied and scapegoated.
  • Over 200 people were reportedly killed in Guma LGA on June 13 by suspected herdsmen.
  • Homes were torched, families massacred; national outrage has swelled, while President Tinubu remains silent.
Ayra Starr may have meant no harm, but her clapback clashed with the emotional climate online. In a moment of national mourning, words—or their absence—can amplify pain or peace. Whether fair or not, public figures are expected to reflect public grief

Should artists stay quiet or speak up in times of national crisis? Nigerians are still asking and watching.