Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the TV host, has defended Bobrisky’s win at a recent movie premiere.
Bobrisky recently won the ‘best dressed female’ award at the premiere of ‘Ajakaju’, a movie by Eniola Ajao.
The crossdresser was gifted N1 million naira following her win.
Her victory sparked several reactions online with celebrities and fans questioning the parameters used in handing out the award.
During the recent episode of TVC’s Breakfast show ‘Your View‘, Afolabi-Brown argued that Nigerians have no right to criticise Bobrisky for winning the women’s contest.
The TV host also said as long as the transgender did not “break any law”, she should be left alone.
“He is a very good example of the Nigerian factor. There is no actual law against cross-dressing but the act or the perception of it can also be questioned,” she said.
“So on one hand, Nigeria is like no! On the other hand, we kind of skirt around the issues. Now this is a man who is well protected, he has never been questioned, or arrested for his choices, we have not even seen who he is dating because if he is indeed a woman, he should be dating a man.
“So when ‘shim’ goes for a competition like this, why are we feeling offended? Because shim has changed her genitals and she is a woman. So this is my own stand, as long as this person has not broken any law, we have no right to criticise ‘shim’ for winning a competition that ‘shim’ has offered herself to.”
In April 2022, the house of representatives considered a bill to prohibit cross-dressing in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, which seeks to amend the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, passed first reading at the lower legislative chamber.
The bill defines cross-dressing as “the practice of wearing clothes usually worn by a person of the opposite sex”.
The proposed legislation implies that when passed into law, the likes of Bobrisky and James Brown — both Nigerian cross-dressers — may face up to six months in jail if they continue with their current practice.