Veteran Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has defended his decision to accept the sexuality of his two daughters, saying they are adults who do not require his approval to determine how they live their lives.
The singer and social commentator made the remarks while addressing reactions that followed his recent public comments about his family. Charly Boy confirmed that two of his daughters identify as lesbians, explaining that his youngest daughter came out several years ago while his older daughter did so more recently.
He admitted that accepting the development was initially difficult, particularly when his younger daughter first told him about her sexuality. However, he said his thinking changed as he considered the limits of parental authority over adult children and concluded that maintaining a loving relationship with his daughters was more important to him.
Charly Boy said the situation involving his older daughter was particularly different because she had already raised a family. He said she had given him six grandchildren and a great-grandson and argued that, as a woman in her 50s, she was old enough to make personal decisions without seeking permission from her parents.
His latest comments come days after he publicly celebrated the engagement of his daughter Adaeze to her female partner. The entertainer congratulated the couple and encouraged people to wish them well as they prepared for their future together.
The veteran entertainer said his approach to fatherhood had changed over the years, explaining that he did not want to become a parent who attempted to dictate every aspect of the lives of his grown children. He said independence, personal responsibility and happiness were important considerations in how he related with them.
Charly Boy also drew a comparison between his daughters’ decisions and his own relationship with his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. He recalled that his father wanted him to pursue a conventional professional path, but he ultimately chose a different direction and developed the unconventional Charly Boy personality that became central to his entertainment career.
His position on his children’s sexuality is not entirely new. In 2018, his daughter Dewy publicly discussed coming out as a lesbian, revealing that her parents initially found it difficult to accept. Charly Boy later publicly stood by her, saying that despite whatever personal reservations he might have had, she was an adult entitled to make decisions about her life.
The entertainer said his priority now is maintaining a healthy relationship with his children rather than fighting over choices he cannot control. He added that as long as they are independent, responsible for themselves and not depending on him financially, their personal lives remain theirs to determine.
His comments have generated mixed reactions, reflecting wider social, cultural and religious disagreements surrounding same-sex relationships in Nigeria. Same-sex marriage and civil unions remain prohibited under Nigerian law.
Despite the wider debate, Charly Boy has presented his position primarily as a matter of fatherhood and family. He maintained that parents can advise their children and may not always agree with their choices, but adult children ultimately have responsibility for decisions concerning their own lives.
For the veteran entertainer, accepting his daughters does not necessarily mean that every parent must share his views. Rather, he said his own decision is centred on preserving his relationship with his children and allowing them to pursue the lives they believe will make them happy.