Fashanu apologises to daughter, divorces wife
Former England footballer John Fashanu has apologised to his daughter for spreading misinformation about her and announced he is divorcing his wife.
Former England footballer John Fashanu, who is of Nigerian descent, has apologised to his daughter, Amal, for spreading misinformation about her. He also announced he is divorcing his wife, Vivian, over the issue. In May, Premium Times reported that Mr Fashanu, in a video, denied claims involving Amal and said she was not managing his affairs.
However, the former host of the ‘Gladiators’ TV show, in a video posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, said Vivian misinformed him about his daughter. He said: “I’m here today to clarify a few very important things. The video I previously did was wrong. I was misinformed by my wife, Vivian, whom I’m sorry to say I’m divorcing. Now that I’m aware of the truth, I apologise to my daughter, Amal”.
The 63-year-old further said he and Amal share a wonderful father-daughter relationship, adding that he was the one who invited her to become involved in his business because she is his first daughter. “Amal, I want to publicly say I’m sorry for that previous video. It was made at a time when I was listening to someone else’s anger instead of following my own heart,” he said.
The public apology and divorce announcement mark a dramatic turn in a family feud that played out in the media. Fashanu’s admission that he was misinformed and his decision to divorce his wife over the issue suggest a deep rift in the family. For Amal, the public apology is a vindication.
This echoes the 2020 celebrity family feuds that also played out in the media. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a public spectacle that damaged family relationships.
The winners: Amal, who has received a public apology; and John Fashanu, who has taken responsibility for his actions. The losers: Vivian, who faces divorce; and the family, which has been fractured by the dispute.
Bottom Line: John Fashanu has apologised to his daughter and is divorcing his wife. A family feud has reached a turning point. The question is whether the family can heal or the damage is permanent.