Rachel, the sibling of the late Rebecca Ikumelo, has strongly criticised the popular musician, Asake, for a tribute he made during his Sunday concert in London.
The tribute surprised Rebecca's family, whom Asake had not contacted since the tragic incident in December 2022 that led to Rebecca's passing, along with the security guard Gabrielle Hutchinson, due to a crowd surge at one of Asake's shows.
During his recent London concert, Asake displayed photos and videos of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gabrielle Hutchinson, dedicating a segment of his performance to the two fans. He also encouraged those with information about the incident to contact the police.
However, Rachel (@Rachaeliku) took to social media, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter), to express her dissatisfaction with the tribute. She criticised the musician for not reaching out to their family following the tragedy, yet proceeding to hold another concert in London less than nine months later and showcasing videos of Rebecca as a "tribute."
In her tweet, Rachel said, "What a sorry excuse for a 'tribute' from @asakemusik. My sister lost her life at your show, and you haven’t spoken to a single member of my family since. But can you hold another concert in London less than nine months later and play her videos as a 'tribute'? RIP Rebecca Ikumelo."
Although Asake had offered condolences to the family after the incident, Rachel highlighted that he had not obtained consent from the family before sharing videos of Rebecca during the recent tribute. She underscored the importance of seeking permission before using personal material in such a manner.
Asake faced challenges in his previous December show at O2 Academy Brixton, which was sold out. Ticketless fans attempted to gain unauthorised access to the venue, leading to disruptions and eventual event cancellation. Tragically, the chaos resulted in two fatalities and numerous hospitalisations.
Rachel's criticism highlights the delicate balance between paying homage and respecting the wishes and emotions of the bereaved families in such circumstances.
