Veteran media personality, Frank Edoho, has shared his reasons for responding to internet trolls, particularly in response to speculations surrounding his departure as the host of the TV quiz show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”
The 51-year-old explained that he engaged with trolls because the reports of his dismissal were false.
Edoho revealed this during a recent episode of the Teju Babyface Deep Dive Podcast, hosted by comedian Teju Babyface (Olateju Oyelakin).
He expressed his belief that celebrities should not tolerate insults from trolls, as doing so would only empower them further.
According to Edoho: “I became the ‘king of clap back’ when they said I was dropped from ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ and then people started insulting me. People just came at me, you know.
“I never looked at it from the viewpoint that I can’t be insulted. But when you insult me for something that didn’t happen, or you’re just playing childish, or you just want to be corrosive, then I say that these people [trolls] deserve to be answered. Why? Number one, because everybody answers them. And if you give a fool leverage, the fool will grow to become the president of this country one day.
“You know why? Because everybody says, ‘No, don’t involve [yourself with trolls].’ Some actually sent me a message and said, ‘This your replies to trolls would disrupt your brand.’ I said, What brand? If I have a brand, I didn’t put it out there knowingly. I’m just a guy who loves broadcasting. I do ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ And before I got that job, I didn’t promise you that I would be on my best behaviour.
“The problem with these people [trolls] is that when they see people on TV, they see you as an actor or a proficient entertainer from any facet at all; they think that because you are there and people are looking up to you, they expect you to be perfect.”