The story of two internet sensations, Matthew Kelechi and Amakor Johnson known as the Happie Boys remains one that aptly follows the phrase grace to grass. The Happie Boys became popular in less than a week after a single video shared on TikTok went viral. However, in less than a year, these internet sensations have grown to become one of the most controversial duos. Adeniyi Adewoyin writes.

Internet frenzy

The story of Happie Boys began when the video of two security guards dancing at one of the branches of Chicken Republic, a fast food chain in Nigeria, went viral in 2022. Not many would have predicted what fate holds in store for the two young men after grabbing fame as an instant internet sensations. Matthew Precious Kelechi and Amakor Johnson had shared a video of themselves dancing while on duty which caught the attention of social media users and became an instant viral.

Job loss and outcry

Following the instant fame, the Happie Boys were faced with immediate challenges when they were allegedly sacked for ‘unprofessional conduct’ during work hours by the management of the eatery. The news of their sack spread so fast and got fans outraged.

Outraged Nigerians flooded social media in support of the security guards to lambast the management of Chicken Republic for dismissing the duo instead of seizing the opportunity to ride on their fame and gain more customers.

However, the restaurant debunked the allegation stating that the Happie Boys work with a security company who assigned them to their branch and the security firm were responsible for what happened to them following the viral video.

Pastors offers visa, scholarship

On hearing of their story, a popular clergyman, Pastor Chibuzor Chinyere, the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), offered scholarships to the two security guards.

Pastor Chinyere noted that the boys were too young to be working as security personnel and noted that the church is giving a scholarship to them in a university in Cyprus.

The hitch

Pastor’s promise seems to only last a few months as he cites high exchange rate as a reason to halt the scholarship program in Cyprus. Pastor Chibuzor reportedly asked all his scholarship recipients including Happie Boys to return home in order to transfer their studies to Nigerian Universities which he would continue to pay for but that was the genesis of their fall out.

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Accusations

Not happy with the new development, Happie Boys took to social media to reveal that they had been abandoned in Cyprus by their sponsor. The boys alleged that the clergy was diabolic and unloyal and claimed the pastor was doing more for other students on scholarship.

The curse

As their fallout escalated, Happie Boys went further to share their conversation with the clergyman on social media claiming he cursed them. The Happie Boys rescinded on their claims and took to their social media accounts to appeal to the clergyman.

Arrested, detained in Cyprus

Within a year, their dream of a better life has been a roller-coaster with no assurance of what the future holds. In October 2023, the Happie Boys were allegedly arrested and detained in Cyprus over unpaid school fees and risk being deported to their home country. Unconfirmed reports also alleged that Happie Boys have been deported to Nigeria and were seen in an Abuja hotel. (The Nation)

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