Kenyan content creator Marya Prude has revealed that she lost a major influencer partnership with a mental health organization after her controversial online reaction to the breakup between her ex-husband Willis Raburu and his now-former partner Ivy Namu.
The drama began shortly after media personality Willis Raburu and his longtime partner Ivy Namu publicly confirmed that they had ended their relationship.
In her breakup announcement, Ivy Namu shared an emotional statement asking the public to give them space during the difficult moment.
“Kindly respect our privacy at this moment,” Ivy wrote while confirming the end of the relationship that had attracted public attention for years.
However, only hours after the statement went public, Marya Prude, who was previously married to Willis Raburu, shared an Instagram story that many social media users interpreted as a direct jab at Ivy.
The influencer uploaded a casual video while at a hair salon and captioned it:
“Kindly respect my privacy as I switch up my hair.”
The similarity between her caption and Ivy’s breakup message immediately caught the attention of online users, with many accusing Marya of mocking Ivy’s heartbreak and using the breakup to throw subtle shade online.
Within minutes, screenshots of the post began circulating widely across Kenyan social media platforms, fueling heated debate among fans.
As the online conversation intensified, Marya later disclosed that the viral post had already caused serious professional consequences behind the scenes.
According to the content creator, an non-governmental organization (NGO) that had been considering her for a major influencer role for mental health abruptly withdrew its interest after seeing the controversy unfold online.
Marya explained that a close friend sent her screenshots revealing why the organization backed out of the potential partnership.
The NGO reportedly felt that her actions on social media contradicted the values expected from someone representing a mental health advocacy campaign.
The organization allegedly believed that publicly appearing to celebrate another person’s pain or engaging in behavior perceived as online bullying did not align with the message of emotional wellness and empathy they promote.
As a result, the organization decided to discontinue discussions regarding the influencer partnership.
Following criticism from both social media users and reports about the canceled partnership, Marya Prude broke her silence and strongly defended herself against accusations that she had intentionally mocked Ivy Namu.
The influencer insisted that she was simply having fun on social media and expressing herself freely.
She made it clear that she does not regret posting the now-viral salon video despite the professional consequences that followed.
Marya further stated that nobody has the right to dictate how she chooses to heal from past experiences.
She maintained that her post reflected her personal happiness and not an attempt to bully or humiliate anyone.
