Rapper Okyeame Kwame has addressed the backlash he received on social media after promoting his boxer shorts brand with photos some critics described as inappropriate.
Speaking on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV on Tuesday, April 7, the musician defended his decision, insisting that he has the right to express himself as long as his actions do not harm anyone.
“Yes, the social media backlash was huge,” he acknowledged but questioned why he should have withdrawn the campaign.
“I have gotten to a stage where I realise that if I do something that doesn’t hurt myself or anyone, it is not wrong, no matter what society says,” he stated.
Responding to criticism that his photos were inappropriate or bordered on nudity, Okyeame Kwame pushed back strongly against societal expectations.
“How dare society tell me what to show or what not to show?” he questioned.
He explained that context matters, noting that while certain environments may require different standards, his content was not created in such settings.
“If you are standing in Manhyia Palace, you can’t walk in boxer shorts. But I wasn’t at Manhyia Palace,” he said.
The artiste further argued that societal pressure can become restrictive, likening it to a “prison” where individuals limit each other’s freedom based on imposed norms.
“The society has become a prison where every prisoner is taking a prisoner,” he remarked, warning against conforming blindly to expectations.
Beyond the debate on expression, Okyeame Kwame also justified the move from a business perspective, explaining that promoting his own brand was a strategic decision.
“If I have invested money in producing boxer shorts and I need a popular person to wear them so people see and I am popular, why should I pay someone else to take away my profit?” he said.
