Veteran entertainer and social commentator, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has said he accepted his two daughters’ decisions to identify as lesbians because his priority is their happiness.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Charly Boy addressed the controversy that followed his social media posts about his daughters and explained his approach to parenting and their sexuality.
He said his response was driven by love and his belief that parents cannot dictate the choices of their adult children.
“Get it clear, I actually have two daughters who are lesbians. My youngest daughter came out first, years ago, and my eldest daughter came out more recently,” he said.
According to him, accepting his younger daughter’s decision was initially difficult, particularly because she had not had children, while his older daughter had already established a family.
“I was trying to educate people that you have no control over the life of a 50-something-year-old woman. This is the same woman who gave me six grandchildren and a great-grandson. If she decides that she no longer likes men and prefers to be a lesbian, so be it. My only concern is for her to be happy,” he said.
Charly Boy added that he preferred to maintain a good relationship with his children rather than quarrel with them over their personal choices.
“I don’t want to quarrel with my children if I can help it. As long as you’re not bothering me, asking me for money or having a sense of entitlement, it’s all about love,” he said.
He explained that his love for his children made it easier for him to adapt to their decisions, adding that he wanted to be a supportive and open-minded father.
“As long as they are standing on their own two feet and not asking me for money, their life is their life. At the end of the day, it all comes down to love,” he said.
Asked whether he felt bad about his daughters identifying as lesbians, Charly Boy gave a mixed response.
“Yes and no. Yes, because I would have wished Dominique, like the older one, had her babies before she jumped into this, but she was never married before,” he said.
The entertainer also said his approach to parenting had evolved, particularly in dealing with younger generations.
“As a parent, I’ve learnt that with millennials and Gen Zs, you don’t tell them what to do; you can only advise them and try to get them to see the logical side of what you’re putting across for them to take, leave or trash. The days of beating and commanding are gone and can’t come back,” he said.
Charly Boy said his decision to speak publicly about his family was consistent with his personality and the views expressed in his book, 999.
Charly Boy on Obasanjo
Speaking about his relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Charly Boy described him as both a friend and a father figure.
He said their close relationship developed naturally rather than through any deliberate effort to build a friendship.
“We didn’t intentionally set out to build this kind of friendship. It was just something that happened naturally or organically. I’m enjoying it, just like he’s enjoying it. I like very sincere and open people, and he is one of such persons,” he said.
According to him, the two sometimes spend several hours discussing a wide range of issues, including religion.
“We talk for three or four hours sometimes. You can start imagining what Charly Boy and Obasanjo would be talking about for three or four hours. We talk about religion a lot because I want to know where he stands in the scheme of things,” he said.
Charly Boy added that he regarded Obasanjo as a father figure and often sought his advice when faced with difficult decisions.
“Sometimes, I feel like he’s my father because he talks like my father and does things like my father. Anytime I’m trying to figure something out, I call him, and he helps me sort it out. For friendship, he’s there; for fatherhood, he’s there. We talk every day,” he said.
