Nollywood star Regina Daniels has found herself at the center of a luxury timepiece controversy after being publicly called out for wearing what an Italian luxury brand claims is a counterfeit Rolex watch. The actress subsequently pointed fingers at her brother, Sweezy, who has fired back with his own response.
The drama began when Daniels proudly showcased what she described as a $30,000 Rolex watch on social media last week. The actress, who is married to billionaire politician Ned Nwoko, appeared delighted with her new acquisition as she displayed it to her millions of followers.
However, the celebration was short-lived when Italian luxury brand T20luxury took to Instagram on Monday with a post directly challenging the authenticity of Daniels’ timepiece. The brand didn’t mince words in their assessment, explicitly stating that the actress was wearing a fake Rolex.
In their post, T20luxury acknowledged that many celebrities rely on stylists or personal shoppers to curate their wardrobes and accessories. However, they emphasized that public figures should be able to recognize counterfeit items and understand the negative impact such goods have on society and legitimate businesses.
The luxury brand went further by offering advice to Daniels, suggesting she should “maintain authenticity, uphold industry standards, and conduct due diligence” when purchasing high-end fashion pieces in the future.
Daniels’ response came swiftly but surprisingly. Rather than defending the watch’s authenticity herself, she redirected attention to her brother Sweezy. In a post she later deleted, the actress publicly called him out, writing: “Brother @sweezzy1 Abeg come and explain yourself because I don’t understand what’s going on here.”
This statement implied that Sweezy had purchased the watch for her, effectively shifting the responsibility for the alleged counterfeit item onto him.
Sweezy didn’t take the accusation lying down. He responded through his Instagram story, but rather than addressing his sister’s claims directly, he focused his anger on T20luxury. He suggested the brand was using his sister’s name and reputation to generate publicity for themselves.
“Dear @t20luxury, contrary to your post about Regina’s Rolex, I hope this helps you get a clearer insight into what you seek. Bless. As you post negative, post positive. Let’s be guided!! Regina’s name go make all of us mad last last,” he wrote, mixing English with Nigerian Pidgin.
Sweezy continued his defense by suggesting the luxury brand had ulterior motives, writing: “And I rate you before o. He say he no see the date like well werey. And I think say this t20 get level, since them kill your page na bad belle you dey use promote your new page? Common boy! I’ve sent you missing lens.”
His response indicates he believes T20luxury is using the controversy to promote their new page after their previous one was apparently shut down. The mention of a “missing lens” suggests he may have sent the brand additional evidence regarding the watch’s authenticity.
This incident highlights the complex relationship between celebrities and luxury brands, particularly in an era where social media has made it easier than ever for public figures to showcase their wealth and status symbols. It also underscores the growing problem of counterfeit luxury goods in the entertainment industry.
For Daniels, who rose to fame as a child actress and has since become one of Nollywood’s most recognizable stars, this controversy comes at a time when her public image has been carefully cultivated around luxury and affluence, particularly since her marriage to Nwoko in 2019.
The incident also raises questions about the responsibility celebrities have when promoting luxury items to their followers. As influencers with significant reach, their endorsements—whether paid or personal—carry weight and influence consumer behavior.
T20luxury’s public callout of Daniels reflects a growing trend of luxury brands becoming more aggressive in protecting their intellectual property and brand integrity. Counterfeit goods represent billions in lost revenue annually for authentic luxury brands, who increasingly view public figures as potential unwitting promoters of fake items.
As for the sibling relationship between Regina and Sweezy, this public spat reveals the potential pitfalls of family involvement in celebrity image management. By publicly blaming her brother, Daniels may have preserved her own reputation in the short term, but potentially at the cost of family harmony.
Neither Daniels nor her representatives have issued any further statements clarifying whether she knew the watch was potentially counterfeit when she first displayed it. Meanwhile, T20luxury has not responded to Sweezy’s accusations about their motives.
For now, the saga of the questionable Rolex continues to unfold on social media, where fans and critics alike are watching closely to see how this luxury timepiece controversy ultimately resolves.
