I Feel Cheated Not Winning BBA Hotshots- Tayo Faniran

 

Weeks after putting up a remarkable show at the Big Brother house for 63 days, Tayo Faniran who emerged the first runner up recently returned home and was welcomed amid all the pomp and fanfare. A home coming party was thrown for him at the popular Cova Lounge, in Victoria Island where he fraternized with the press and scores of fans. The 28 year old model and new dad revealed that he was shocked when Idris Sultan of Tanzania was announced as the winner of the reality TV. However, Tayo explained that the interaction with other Africans in the house and the exposure to the rich and diverse cultures in Africa have prepared him to further pursue a career in acting, singing, or as a TV presenter. He revealed more in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

Could you clear the air on the news making the rounds on social media that you received cash gift from Billionaire, Ayiri Emami?

I would like to say that I do not have an answer for that now; but very soon you’ll get confirmation concerning the cash gift. Nothing is confirmed yet but very soon you will get news from me.

So what next after Big Brother?

I am a very flexible person and TV is my forte; I will be involved in the industry now because I am eyeing a role in Nollywood. I am here in Nigeria to achieve all that because I want to entertain Africa and the world in general.

Towards the end of the reality TV show, you showed the aggressive side of you when a fellow housemate tried to talk you down. Do you think that incident damaged your chances of emerging the winner of Big Brother Hotshots?

First of all I’d like to correct the notion that I didn’t come first; I have come across anyone who watched the programme based on facts and sentiments and I have not come across anyone who said I didn’t deserve to be the winner although I came second. Idris got the money but I got the honour and fame and I have made scores of fans and well wishers proud with the display I put up while I was in the house.

If you had the chance to go back to the house what will you do differently?

There was nothing I could have changed; I took part in the competition and I did my best. Maybe I may have made some mistakes but I take solace in the fact that nobody is perfect. I have played my part and if you ask me I am satisfied with the part I played and would not change anything even if I had the chance to.

When Idris’ name was mentioned as the winner of BBA Hotshots, how did you handle it emotionally?

Idris was not comfortable when we both got to the finals because he felt I was a threat to his chances of emerging the winner. So when we got on stage and they started showing highlights of our time in the house I was cock sure I was going to win. But when IK announced Idris as the winner, I thought he was joking with me but I took the announcement in good faith.

Did you feel cheated that you didn’t emerge the winner of Big Brother Hotshots?

I do feel cheated but my fans are not allowing me feel that; I am their winner and that has softened everything. The fans love me and I am willing to do everything to ensure that I pay them back by getting myself involved in the entertainment scene back home. The whole show has ended though, but I know and feel that I was cheated.

Would you like to go back to the Big Brother house in the near future like Uti did?

I wouldn’t take the chance again; I don’t have three months to fritter away. I want to settle down to real business.

What’s your relationship with Tamar?

I and Tamar belong to a professional modeling group back in South Africa and there are a lot of us Nigerian’s back there in South Africa trying to make a name for ourselves. We are like one big family and we’ve been like that for years. I’ve been in South Africa since 2008 and Tamar has been our cook and she treats everyone like a close friend. Tamar is like a sister from another mother and my baby mama is comfortable with me being with Tamar. Now that I am out of the house, I have decided to make her my manager because I know she can handle that aspect perfectly well.

Are you now based in Nigeria?

Yes. This is my home; I was in Nigeria for four months last year before I went back to South Africa. I was the model coordinator for the Native and Vogue Fashion event that took place in Port Harcourt last year. I went to South Africa to hustle and now I have a launch pad back home which Big Brother has afforded me and I know there are a lot of people here in Nigeria that would like to work with me. For your information, I already have an apartment in Lekki and that means, I am here to stay.

What name did you give your baby who was born while you were still in the house?

I named him Akintoye.

How many times did you enter for Big Brother before you got your break?

The first Big Brother audition that I was part of was in 2009. I have been trying since then and I got lucky this year. If you watch closely, I was also part of Money Drops Nigeria in 2012.

Would your fans see you feature in some Yoruba movie in the near future?

I can do that comfortably because I am a Yoruba man. It is second nature to me; I would like to work with the likes of Kunle Afolayan who has turned out to be one of the most prolific movie producers in the land. I would also like to work with Funke Akindele because of her creativity and versatility. I won’t be limited to Yoruba movie though because I also have my eyes on the English sector.