Nigerian streamer Habeeb Adelaja, known as Peller, apologized on 1 November 2026 after he asked a guest to call him Jesus Christ during a live broadcast. The clip spread on social media the same day and drew criticism from many Nigerians.
Peller wore a white-and-red costume with a wig during the stream, which aired on TikTok Live. He greeted his guests, telling them to refer to him as “Jesus Christ.” The male guest immediately refused to go along and told Peller that mocking religion was wrong, whatever the intent. He said Peller’s 17 million followers gave him a duty to behave responsibly.
Peller defended himself on air. He said nobody alive knows what Jesus looked like, and that a costume did not mean he claimed to be Jesus. He also said he is a traditionalist who practices juju, not a Christian, and that he would dress as an Imam the next day. Another person on the stream warned him he was “digging himself into a hole.”
Peller then posted a video to apologize. He said he did not know the outfit would cause offense and described it as a white cloth. “Yes, I’m very sorry,” he said. “Christian people sorry, you hear, I don’t know.”
He then described his own faith. “Yeah, I’m a Christian too. Yeah, I go to Christ Apostolic church. Yeah, I’m a Muslim on one side,” he said.
The apology did not settle the matter. Many users on X said it did not sound sincere. User @iam_Bachure wrote: “Oga, you’re not sorry; you’re just stupid.” User @Zeebekee wrote: “Na every time he dey apologize. His mouth moves faster than his brain.”
Others focused on religion. Several users noted that Peller is reportedly Muslim and said he would not treat the Prophet Muhammad the same way. One user, @Ezenwata33, asked whether he could “try that with Muslim.” Another, @uglybitcoiin, said a Christian who impersonated Islam would face far harsher consequences.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Gunmen Attack Police Vehicle Along Sokoto-Zamfara Road, Kill Five
Some social media users linked the incident to remarks by rapper YCee, who used Peller as an example when discussing the “olodo uprising,” a term for the rise of low-quality online content in Nigeria. YCee told Cool FM Lagos he would not apologize for naming Peller. Critics wrote that people who defended Peller then could “see the result now.” Peller is married to fellow creator Jarvis.
