“We hope Americа still loves us. “
When Simone Biles – four-time Olympic gold medallist, multiple world champion and arguably the greatest gymnast of all time – withdrew from the team and all-around events at the Tokyo Olympics, it was headline news across the US and the world.
The American, who is a sexual assault survivor, spoke about the importance of preserving her mental health and the need to “protect our minds and our bodies,” adding: “We are people, at the end of the day.”
Biles’ decision drew praise from many, but there were others who accused her of using mental health as an excuse for a below-standard performance.
For many athletes, past and present, Biles’ honesty could change the way mental health is dealt with in sport.
Analysis
‘Mental & physical health are equally important’
“As the story unfolded yesterday, I was getting more and more frustrated. I’d see these headlines popping up saying how Biles was weak, she wasn’t mentally strong enough to deal with the pressure.
“On social media, people were accusing her of using it as an excuse to pull out of the vault because she wasn’t performing as well. I just think it’s absolute nonsense.
“She said she wasn’t in the right mental frame of mind to go and perform well enough and that she could have caused herself some damage. Every sports person knows that if you go in half-cocked, you’re going to cause yourself an injury: none more so than in gymnastics.
“She has laid down a foundation for so many athletes and people around the world to say: ‘In this moment in time, inside, something didn’t feel right’. She had the bravery and the courage to pull out of the event.
“We talk about mental health and physical health. They are both just as important as each other.
“To the people who are accusing her of not being a team player: in my mind, she could not have been more of a team player. She recognised that the moves that she was doing, she wouldn’t have been able to execute and get the scores needed for gold.
“Simone could have hid in the background. But she didn’t. She put her tracksuit back on, got out there and stood and clapped her team-mates.
“That, to me, is a champion.”
‘This could make a massive shift in gymnastics’
“As athletes, particularly Simone Biles, the attention and validation comes from being a superhuman. I always call her the female Hercules and she definitely will feel all that pressure.
“This could make a massive shift in gymnastics in talking about mental health, for her to say I’m not at the mental capacity to do the biggest event as the biggest star.
“I am so proud of her. I wish her all the best and hope she’s OK and send her lots of love.”
‘This is a huge step’
“What Simone Biles has done is huge. Stopping and saying ‘there’s something wrong, I need help’ is a huge step. And for her to do it on the world stage at the Olympic Games, that takes bravery and courage.
“To say ‘I’m putting my mental health first, that comes before the Olympic Games’ is a massive, positive message to all the young kids who are growing up now who will have aspirations and dreams of going to the Olympic Games.”
‘No-one prepares you for being an Olympic champion’
Analysis
“I can relate to Simone. She feels like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She feels like she’s failed and she probably feels very confused and doesn’t know what’s up or down.
“After winning gold in Rio, it was so amazing. It was like all your wildest dreams coming true. Then, for me, I came crashing down. I didn’t know how to process.
“No-one teaches you how to process becoming an Olympic champion. I went into quite a deep depression. For me, what helped was therapy.
“As a man, I am saying that we do not talk enough about mental health. It is starting to happen, but it is so important. A lot of women are more open to talking about stuff. Men, we go ‘all right, lads, we’ll be fine.’
“My step-mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and that was really tough. I knew I had to be there for her and that was a big turning point for me.”
‘I am in awe of Simone’
“Simone was and is amazing, but she continues to stand up and be even more amazing. What she did [in withdrawing from the team final] was incredible.
“The health of your athlete is the most important thing. Bottom line, it’s not about what medals they bring home, it’s about their physical and mental health.
“I’ve also suffered with my mental health, so I commend Simone Biles for what she’s done, putting her mental health first and standing up and being brave enough to do that. It really does take huge bravery for her to say what she’s saying right now. “
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
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