‘I Was 6 Years Old When I Became Toxic’ – Singer, Ruger Recounts Childhood Heartbreak
Nigerian singer, Michael Adebayo Olayinka, widely known as Ruger has revealed the unexpected moment that triggered his toxic traits — and it happened when he was just 6 years old.
In an interview on the Bro Bants podcast, the talented music star who rose to fame with the release of his song “Bounce” opened up about a childhood heartbreak that, according to him, had a lasting impact on him.
The Afrobeats singer said at 6, he developed feelings for an older woman who playfully referred to him as her ‘boyfriend’.
The 25-year-old recalled:
“The last time that I experienced heartbreak I was very very young. There was this aunty that I liked, she used to call me ‘my boyfriend.’ So, I assumed that she was my woman. I was just 6 years old.”
However, what seemed like innocent affection turned into a harsh dose of reality. Ruger said he was heartbroken after seeing her with another man, a moment he described as traumatic.
The incident left him crying and singing Styl-Plus’ “Imagine That” — a breakup anthem that perfectly matched his mood at the time.
Ruger credited the experience for his toxic behavior growing up. He said:
“I got heartbroken because one day, I saw some guy smashing her through her window. The guy was tearing her up, bro. I cried. I was traumatised. I started singing ‘Imagine That’ by Styl-Plus. That was what started my toxicity. That experience broke my heart.”