In 2011, an editorial by Nigerian Entertainment Today on celebrity marriages and crash, revealed how celebrity marriages have been known to be painfully ephemeral. Clashing egos, conflicting schedules, issues of control, money matters, domestic priorities, internal complex, cheating, communication crisis, just like any other marriage, the list of what can possibly go wrong is unbelievably long.
And just like any other marriage, there are possibilities of external influences: friends, siblings, parents, neighbours, mentors etcetera. What’s different for celebrity marriages is the huge interest of fans and the media in their affairs. A little spat at the departure lounge, or a one-week mutually-agreed separation can turn into a media scandal of great proportions if care is not taken. Poor media handling, common in these parts, makes matters worse, causing us to lose some of our favourite couples in the process.
Thus, Tiwa Savage, Nigeria’s current biggest female music act and her hubby of just five months, Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun are currently on the spot. And yes, the couple we love and admire; the union we so fancy, seems shaky– leaving us all jaw-dropped with saliva almost escaping from our mouths.
Sources have alleged that the couple is currently trying hard to close up the seeming crack in their relationship, which became noticeable to close friends and family three months back.
This is not the first time a celebrity couple is finding it hard to keep their marriage intact due to constant media checks and scrutiny. And it will not be the last even if the two decide to quit the union. We’ve seen it over and over again but more prominent in recent times is the crash of the seemingly beautiful union of Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa, Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo’s engagement and currently Jay Z and Beyonce, who are trying hard to keep their marriage intact – celebrity marriages world over appear to have very short shelf lives.
What’s different in this case, however, is that the Tiwa and Tee Billz union was seen as a perfect match. Just like entertainment powerful couples, Betty and Soni Irabor or Joke and Olu Jacobs, Tiwa and Tee Billz’s union painted a picture of a match of two driven, focused and passionate people whose souls are intertwined; two young people who know their destination, and are willing to go all the way, hand-in-hand, in spite of whatever trials or tribulations accost them on the way.
One recurring truth that stare the couple in the face is the total ‘baggage’ that came with Tee Billz – he has a baby mama with two kids, whom he shows affection to and flaunts at will. Although Tiwa accepted him with the ‘baggage,’ the couple are constantly reminded of this with media scrutiny and labelling of Tee Billz as a ‘second hand’ hubby by opinionated singer and columnist, Etcetera.
However, several reports point to the tale that the wedding might be witnessing turbulent times following the reported dissolution of their working relationship as manager and artiste.
It was further reported that Tunji is no longer in charge of Tiwa’s calls and he has also stopped accompanying her to events as the manager.
And sources backed this claim with Tiwa’s sole attendance at big events which has been the case more often than not in the last two months.
From high society events that include Jimmy JATT’s 25th anniversary to Mo Abudu’s 50th birthday party at Oriental Hotel, Ita Giwa’s daughter’s recent wedding and the Project Fame final gala night, Tiwa sadly had to attend the events all by herself without the usual company of her manager and hubby, Tee Billz.
However, an insider insists that these are mere coincidences as these aren’t enough reasons to assume there is a problem in the family.
The insider further insisted that Tee Billz’ schedule has become quite tight after signing on a few other acts on his 323 management firm.
Another rumour of a crack in their marriage surfaced in August 2014 when the two were in Los Angeles, United States of America. Tiwa posted on Instagram a picture of herself posing with a note that reads: ‘All sales are final. No exchanges, no returns’ and added‘…which means you MrBillz @teebillz323 cannot return me to my parents or exchange me.’
Instantly, fans began to raise eyebrows as to what could have warranted such a quote from Tiwa but whatever suspicions raised were quickly doused by Tee Billz’s reply which reads: ‘But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.’ #LastTrainToHeaven #LoveMyTiti @officialtiwasavage.’
Sadly, this didn’t calm the curiosity of Tiwa’s fans who were convinced that beneath their regular public display of affection on social media, there was a crack in the union.
And on Friday, September 26, 2014, when Tee Billz turned a year older, he took to his Instagram page to thank God for the mercies but Tiwa neither wished her hubby happy birthday on Twitter or on Instagram till later in the day when she posted a picture of the 323 management boss with no word except 3 heart-shaped love symbols.
Despite all these reports and allegations, the couple has remained silent and their media aides have had no official responses to offer.
It is worthy to note that Tiwa and Tee Billz began their love affair over two years ago but kept it under wraps and evendenied it on the pages of newspapers and magazine until Wednesday, February, 5, 2013, when Tee Billz engaged Tiwa with a $2,000 diamond-encrusted, yellow canary wedding band. In November of the same year, the two got engaged traditionally in a lavish ceremony and sealed it with a much-talked-about white wedding held in far away Dubai, UAE in April, 2014.
10 QUICK FACTS ABOUT TIWA SAVAGE AND TUNJI TEE BILLZ BALOGUN
- Tiwa Savage met Tee Billz in Los Angeles at a concert that was headlined by Timaya.
- Their affair kicked off almost at same time Tee Billz began managing Tiwa Savage. They got married in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Saturday, May 10, 2014.
- Tiwa Savage is currently signed on to Don Jazzy-led Mavin Records and was managed by Tee Billz 323 entertainment.
- Tiwa Savage is unarguably the current biggest Nigerian female act with a successful album, three juicy endorsement deals as FO Oil ambassador, MTN ambassador and Pepsi ambassador.
- Tiwa and Tee Billz’s traditional wedding in Lagos gulped over N30m.
- Tiwa and Tee Billz have no kids together yet.
- Tee Billz solely owns 323 entertainment.
- Tee Billz has a baby mama with two kids.
- Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, recording artist, performer, and actress who is also signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
- Tee Billz is 36 years old while Tiwa Savage is 34 years old.
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