American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed addressed criticism following his visit to Lagos, Nigeria.
Notably, Nigerian content creator Habeeb Hamzat (Peller) was unable to meet him on several occasions during the trip.
iShowSpeed arrived in Nigeria last week as part of his continental tour titled “Speed Does Africa,” which began on December 29, 2025, and is scheduled to run for 28 days across 20 African countries. The tour included planned visits to several locations on the continent, with Benin Republic listed as his next stop after Nigeria.
During his stay in Lagos, videos circulated online showing Peller attempting on multiple occasions to approach iShowSpeed. In one instance, security personnel prevented him from getting close to the streamer’s vehicle. In another widely shared clip, Peller was seen riding a horse through traffic in an effort to attract attention. Despite these efforts, iShowSpeed did not engage with him.
The incident caused widespread reactions on Nigerian social media, with some users accusing the American streamer of disrespecting local creators. Others questioned the conduct of Peller and his management team.
Speaking after the backlash, iShowSpeed said the purpose of his visit was being misunderstood.
“This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers,” he said. “The goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
He added that his daily activities during the tour were planned in advance and could not be altered.
“Every day on this tour is scheduled — the locations, the time, everything,” he explained. “Cutting short cultural visits or cancelling plans made by local communities would be disrespectful.”
iShowSpeed also noted that similar complaints had been raised during his earlier visit to South Africa, but maintained that he remained focused on the tour’s objectives.
“A lot of the people complaining already have audiences,” he said. “This trip is about the real Africa — the street performers, local artists, and communities with real talent that don’t usually get global attention.”
Meanwhile, Peller’s manager, Bosa Lee, responded to claims that his client’s team failed to contact iShowSpeed ahead of the visit. In a video statement, Lee said contact had been made prior to the trip.
“Who told you that the management did not reach out?” he asked. “I reached out before now, but he said he was not collaborating with streamers.”
Lee admitted that Peller’s team made an error in how they presented him.
“I think the mistake we made was introducing Peller as a streamer,” he said.
Following the incident, Peller received criticism from several public figures, including activist Deji Adeyanju, who advised him to focus on education and long-term development. Peller did not immediately respond to the comments.
However, the streamer later announced that he had begun studying Law.
As of the time of reporting, neither Peller nor iShowSpeed has indicated plans to meet, and the American streamer has continued with his scheduled tour activities.
