“We organised everything as a normal promo. And so far, apart from the fact that we purposely did it, I still wanted to get the public’s reactions,” he said in Pidgin English.

“At no point did I say I hate the Igbo language or Igbo culture. I said ‘Naija language,’ referring to the different languages in Nigeria, but some individuals twisted it and made it seem like I specifically mentioned Igbo. I didn’t.”

“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” BTS members said in coordinated posts on their individual Instagram accounts.

The celebrity boxing showdown has continued to generate excitement online, with supporters of both contestants expressing confidence ahead of  the fight night.

Peter Okoye, one half of the defunct music duo P-Square, has apologised over the backlash sparked by his recent comments about Nigerian languages, insisting that he never insulted the Igbo language or culture.