American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, has addressed criticism trailing his visit to Lagos after some Nigerian content creators accused him of deliberately avoiding collaborations during his Africa tour.
The debate followed viral footage from Speed’s Lagos livestream, which captured large crowds, spontaneous street moments and intense fan reactions.
While the clips dominated social media conversations, questions also emerged over his refusal to link up with popular local creators.
One of the most talked-about incidents involved Nigerian streamer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, who made multiple attempts to get Speed’s attention.
In videos circulating online, Peller was seen trying to approach Speed’s vehicle and later riding a horse through traffic.
In one clip, he pleaded for a collaboration which was denied.
The silence sparked criticism from fans and creators alike, many of whom wondered why a global streaming figure would tour Africa without collaborating with prominent digital personalities.
Responding to the backlash, Speed said the intention of the “Speed Does Africa” tour had been misunderstood.
“This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers.” he explained.
“The goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
“lot of the people complaining already have audiences, while this tour is meant to give exposure to people who normally don’t get it.” He added.
Speed also clarified that his daily movements are strictly organised by his team.
“Every day on this tour is scheduled the locations, the time, everything,” he said, stressing that accommodating unscheduled meetups would disrupt plans made with host communities.
According to him, “cutting short cultural visits or cancelling plans made by local communities would be disrespectful.”
He added that similar reactions had occurred earlier during his visit to South Africa, but maintained that the central mission of the tour remains unchanged.