Controversial Nigerian entertainer Speed Darlington has opened up on why he believes the United States did not favor him, despite spending over two decades there.
Speaking in a candid rant, the singer said his years in America were marked more by arrests and hardship than progress.
According to him, after 23 years in the U.S., he came to terms with the reality that the society was neither mentally nor physically conducive for him.
“America didn’t favor me, and I’m not ashamed to say it,” he said, adding that his major takeaways from the country were repeated arrests and a criminal record. He explained that while he values having access to the U.S. to visit family for short periods, he no longer sees it as a place to settle.
Speed Darlington claimed that living in America negatively affected his confidence and sense of self-worth, describing the environment as isolating and emotionally draining. He said the pressure of being judged for his accent and constantly feeling inadequate made everyday social interactions difficult.
The entertainer also spoke about racial bias, alleging that Black men are often forced to over-prove themselves before earning respect. “In that society, a Black man is worth nothing,” he said, contrasting it with life in Nigeria where, according to him, he feels valued and confident because “everybody is Black.”
He further expressed fear over police brutality in the U.S., saying he was shocked to see even white women being roughly handled by law enforcement, making him worry about how he, as an African man with an accent, would be treated.
Speed Darlington noted that his wealth and property were built largely through support from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, stressing that even his highly publicized clash with singer Portable in Lagos helped him financially.
Summing up his stance, he said, “It’s better to be free in the forest than be at the center of everything and live in a cage.”
