- TikTok, the wildly popular video-sharing app, recently faced an abrupt shutdown in the U.S. after its Chinese parent company failed to comply with a government-mandated divestment order issued by the outgoing presidential administration.
- The dramatic end to the platform’s U.S. operations has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among its most high-profile users, celebrities and influencers, who had come to rely on the app as a lucrative side hustle.
The sudden shutdown of TikTok in the United States has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and beyond, leaving international stars and millions of users grappling with the fallout.
Among those voicing their frustrations are global rap sensation Cardi B and Nigerian actors Biodun Okeowo (popularly known as Omoborty), Opeyemi Aiyeola, and Jigan Babaoja, all of whom have expressed their disappointment with the ban.
TikTok, which was taken offline on Saturday night following a Supreme Court decision to uphold a bipartisan law requiring the app to be sold to a U.S.-based or allied buyer, has left over 170 million American users in the lurch.
The law, signed into effect by outgoing President Joe Biden in April, was framed as a response to national security concerns surrounding TikTok’s Chinese ownership. However, the decision has sparked fierce debate, with critics arguing that it prioritizes politics over the cultural and economic lifelines the app provided to millions.
For Cardi B, whose presence on TikTok has helped amplify her music to an even wider audience, the shutdown prompted a swift clapback against critics.
When a user on social media platform X suggested that rappers relying on TikTok for promotion should “find alternative jobs,” Cardi fired back, stating she doesn’t need TikTok to make money or remain relevant.
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Nigerian actor Jigan Babaoja, currently based in the U.S., shared his dismay over the disruption the ban has caused to his daily routine.
He wrote, “How a king of TikTok has been dethroned! Now, let the boredom begin. O ti da! Pitipiti is that you? E double Tap! Drop the boosting gloves on the X3, E gbe like yen de 1m likes.”
Actress Biodun Okeowo, known to her followers as Omoborty, poured out her emotions in a heartfelt Instagram post, calling TikTok her “safe space” during tough times.
The app, she admitted, had been a source of comfort and joy, providing an outlet for creativity and laughter in challenging moments.
She wrote;
“I can’t believe I’m literally emotional about the TikTok ban in the US. I don’t make money on TikTok, but this app was the major app that helped me through heartbreak in 2021, and I still use it anytime my mood is low.
“This is no exaggeration. I’m genuinely close to tears right now. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same, but I’m really going to miss TikTok.”
Meanwhile, Opeyemi Aiyeola echoed similar sentiments in her own Instagram post, lamenting the loss of a platform that had become a daily ritual for many, both creators and fans alike.
For Aiyeola and countless others, TikTok was more than just a tool—it was a community, a support system, and a lifeline during an era marked by uncertainty and upheaval.
She wrote, “Waking up to this really hurts walahi 💔🥲. I feel for all the beautiful-hearted people who used the platform positively. Stay positive 🇺🇸 ❤️.”