Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has revealed that her viral proposal video with boyfriend Xxssive was a marketing stunt for her event planning business, sparking mixed reactions across social media platforms. The confession came shortly after footage spread online showing the comedian placing a ring on her finger in what appeared to be a romantic engagement scene.
The controversial actress turned entrepreneur addressed the situation through her Instagram story, initially teasing her followers by referencing popular advice about marrying one’s best friend. However, she later admitted that the entire proposal was staged, explaining that the romantic scene was actually part of her first engagement event planning project.
Blessing’s revelation came with a pointed message to critics and gossip blogs, asserting her status as a legitimate event planner while dismissing what she called “upcoming jobless bloggers” seeking attention through her name. The actress emphasized her Igbo heritage and busy schedule, suggesting she was too occupied with genuine business endeavors to engage with negative commentary.
Despite the backlash over the staged proposal, Blessing maintained an optimistic outlook, expressing gratitude for what she described as abundant blessings received toward the end of 2024. She used the opportunity to promote her event planning brand, @events_by_nbs, promising quality service delivery while hinting at future genuine personal milestones that she would share directly with her followers.
The fake proposal incident occurs against the backdrop of persistent breakup rumors surrounding Blessing’s relationship with Xxssive, whom she began dating in 2021 following her highly publicized split from Ekiti State politician Opeyemi Falegan. The couple’s relationship has frequently been the subject of public scrutiny and speculation.
Recent social media interactions have highlighted the ongoing tension between Blessing and her followers regarding her relationship status. The actress notably engaged in a heated exchange with a fan who expressed wishes for her to be single, demonstrating her protective stance toward her relationship with Xxssive despite public skepticism.
This latest controversy adds to Blessing’s history of maintaining a strong social media presence while managing both personal and professional challenges in the public eye. Her transition into event planning represents a diversification of her career beyond acting, though her methods of promotion have raised eyebrows among followers and industry observers.
The actress’s approach to publicity, including this staged proposal, reflects broader trends in celebrity marketing strategies, where personal moments are increasingly leveraged for business promotion. However, the backlash to this particular stunt suggests that audiences may be growing weary of manufactured social media moments, even when they serve promotional purposes.
Blessing’s unapologetic response to critics, combined with her focus on business growth, indicates a strategic pivot in her public persona from purely entertainment to entrepreneurship. Her explicit identification as an “Igbo girl from Abia state” in her defense suggests a deliberate emphasis on cultural identity and work ethic as part of her brand narrative.
As discussions continue about the boundaries between authentic personal sharing and marketing strategies in celebrity culture, Blessing’s fake proposal incident serves as a notable example of the complex relationship between social media, personal branding, and public trust in the digital age.
