Hypo Warns Nigerians After King Mitchy Suicide Prank Sparks Online Trend

Hypo Warns Nigerians After King Mitchy Suicide Prank Sparks Online Trend

The makers of Hypo Bleach have warned Nigerians not to consume the product under any circumstances, following a viral suicide prank involving influencer Michelle Mukoro, popularly known as King Mitchy.

In a public advisory signed by its Marketing Manager, Adebayo Adeyemo, the company stressed that its bleach is strictly a cleaning product and not fit for human consumption.

The warning comes after videos surfaced online showing content creators mimicking an alleged attempt by the influencer to drink the product during a livestream.

“Your health and safety are serious business,” the statement read. “We want to be unambiguous: those images are fabricated, that framing is false, and anyone encouraging others to consume Hypo, even as a joke, even for views, is putting lives at risk. It is not something to consume for the sake of trends.”

The controversy began after King Mitchy became embroiled in an online dispute with fellow influencer Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). The clash followed her claim that she renovated a school in Delta State within five days, attributing financial support for the project to Seyi Tinubu and music executive Don Jazzy.

VDM questioned her assertions and accused her of being politically motivated, triggering a fierce exchange between their supporters. As the online backlash intensified, Mitchy alleged she was being bullied by members of VDM’s fan base, popularly called the “Ratel Gang.”

Last Saturday, during a TikTok livestream, she appeared to drink Hypo Bleach in what was widely interpreted as a suicide attempt. Shortly afterwards, her management team released a statement announcing that she had been rushed to hospital in critical condition and could not be revived.

“This is an incredibly painful moment for us. Mitchy was more than a talent. She was family, full of life, light, and dreams,” the statement said, urging the public to respect the privacy of her loved ones.

However, the announcement was later withdrawn, with her team clarifying that she was alive and in stable condition. Prime Care Hospitals, where she was reportedly treated, denied that she had ever been admitted to its facility and threatened legal action against those spreading what it described as false information.

In a twist that further fuelled online outrage, VDM posted a parody video of himself pretending to drink Hypo, a move that sparked a wave of imitation clips from young Nigerians seeking engagement on social media.

Reacting to the trend, Hypo’s management condemned the videos and the use of artificial intelligence-generated images portraying the bleach as a beverage.

“To every influencer, blogger, and content creator: Your reach is real. So is your responsibility. A trend that ends in ill-health is not a trend worth starting,” Adeyemo said.

He urged young people not to succumb to peer pressure for online validation.

“If someone is pressuring you to try this, that is not a dare. That is harm,” he stated, encouraging anyone struggling emotionally to seek help from trusted adults or healthcare professionals.

The incident has reignited debate about the dangers of viral challenges and the responsibility of influencers in shaping online behaviour, particularly among impressionable youths.