Reality TV star and beauty influencer Tacha has sparked widespread debate on social media after claiming that Nigerians often display discriminatory behaviour that, in her view, can be “worse than racism.”
Her comments were shared on Tuesday in reaction to the online backlash surrounding a recent post by chess player Tunde Onakoya, which drew mixed reactions on X.
In her post, Tacha wrote, “When I see Nigerians talk about racism, I just laugh. Because we’re some of the most discriminatory and segregating people to ever exist.
“I’ve experienced racism, yes, but if you see what Nigerians do to fellow Nigerians every day on this app is worse. And to be honest, if we were in their position, we would probably do worse.”
The controversy stems from a video shared by Tunde Onakoya between April 19 and 20, 2026, showing him playing chess while dressed in traditional agbada at an open plaza outside the Louvre Museum.
Onakoya described the moment as a personal milestone, claiming he was the “first Nigerian to play chess at the Louvre” and framing it as a cultural achievement.
While many social media users praised the display as a celebration of Nigerian culture on a global stage, others criticised the claim, arguing that the location was a public space outside the museum accessible to anyone, and that there was no official record confirming such a “first.” Some also described the moment as informal rather than a historic or institutional event.
Amid the growing debate, Tacha praised Onakoya’s response to criticism, noting that he has endured repeated online attacks in the past.
“To be honest, I love the way Tunde has handled this whole situation because clearly this is not the first time they are coming at him.
“They came at this guy to the point where he had to leave this app, but not anymore. And it is good that he is standing for himself,” she said.
She further criticised what she described as habitual online trolling, suggesting that many users react negatively when others achieve visible success.
“So when they see people succeeding and impacting the real world positively, they hate and get bitter,” she added.