Nigerian musician Ruggedman has talked candidly about how the adultery rumors that accompanied the release of singer 9ice’s song “Once Bitten Twice Shy” affected his life. It was alleged that Ruggedman was having an affair with 9ice’s wife at the time, Toni Payne
In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Ruggedman recounted how the publication of 9ice’s song damaged his reputation. He claims that even though his name was not mentioned in the song, the people still believed that the line was about him.
He started by saying, “It was when the song ‘Once Beaten Twice Shy’ was released. He sang something along the lines of, ‘I saw my girl giving my friend nodding; she was showing him her tattoos; you didn’t have to treat me that way.'” I therefore sent someone to purchase that music as they mentioned that he said that in it. As soon as the song started, I was expecting to hear “Ruggedman did something,” but nothing happened. I ask myself, “How did this link work?”
He continued by recounting his phone discussion with 9ice following the release of the song, in which he requested that the singer elucidate the line that was being misinterpreted.
According to him, who captured the phone call on tape, claims that 9ice declined to issue a statement informing the public that it was about someone else and not himself. Ruggedman then made the call public to clear his name after a week of waiting, but the damage had already been done.
Many thought that I was only protecting myself because, well, you know how Nigerians are. Once it comes to infidelity people are holier than thou. I know that I lost a lot. Do you know how it feels to chat and walk into a place and feel like everyone is just staring at you? There was a time I walked into a place and a guy just held his wife like ‘Dear come close’. It was a very trying time, and it wasn’t easy at the time,” he remarked.
It was rumored at the time that Ruggedman introduced 9ice’s then-wife Toni Payne to him and the two had an affair. He continued by expressing his feelings of betrayal by his ex-best friend 9ice.
In conclusion, he remarked, “What really hurt me was that when he released the album Tradition, it wasn’t really moving until people started buying the record just to hear the song’s missing section, which was the part where 9ice said, ‘Ruggedman and his wife.'” I felt deceived because it seemed like he was putting his wife and me under the bus to get some CDs. It hurt so much.”