By Achile Danjuma
Multipro Enterprise Limited, the manufacturer of Hypo Bleach, has issued a strong public warning against a dangerous new social media trend that involves consuming its product.
The company’s statement comes in the wake of a viral controversy between content creators King Mitchy and VeryDarkMan (VDM), which has led to individuals mimicking an apparent act of self-harm using bleach sachets.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the company’s Marketing Manager, Adebayo Adeyemo, unequivocally stated that the product is a toxic cleaning agent and not fit for human consumption under any circumstances.
“Hypo Bleach, Nigeria’s number one bleach brand, is formulated to remove stains, whiten fabrics, deodorize, and kill 99.9% of germs. It is not a drink,” the statement read. “It is not something to consume for the sake of trends.”
The company noted it has observed videos and AI-generated images circulating online that falsely portray Hypo as a beverage. It described this content as not only fabricated but also incredibly dangerous.
“We want to be unambiguous: those images are fabricated, that framing is false, and anyone encouraging others to consume Hypo, even as a joke or for views, is putting lives at risk,” the company warned.
Hypo directly appealed to digital creators to wield their influence responsibly. “To every influencer, blogger, and content creator: Your reach is real. So is your responsibility. A trend that ends in ill-health is not a trend worth starting.”
The company also addressed its message directly to young Nigerians, urging them to resist peer pressure. “You do not have to prove anything to anyone. Not online. Not offline. Not ever. If someone is pressuring you to try this, that is not a dare. That is harm.”
Furthermore, the statement encouraged individuals struggling with emotional distress to seek help from trusted adults, counsellors, or healthcare professionals, underscoring the importance of prioritising mental health. “Let’s keep social media fun, but safe,” the statement concluded, using the hashtag #HypoForASaferTomorrow.
The company’s warning follows a dramatic escalation of an online feud between influencers King Mitchy and VeryDarkMan.
The dispute is reported to have originated after Mitchy criticised VDM over his handling of school renovation projects. She claimed to have renovated a school in six days and challenged him to provide N50 million to renovate four schools.
The conflict deepened when Mitchy alleged that VDM had questioned the source of funding for her business and made inappropriate insinuations about her character.
In a bid to defend her reputation, Mitchy shared a WhatsApp screenshot of a conversation with the Ooni of Ife, who allegedly commended her for her efforts.
The feud took a deeply concerning turn during a TikTok livestream when Mitchy appeared to drink a substance believed to be bleach. The incident sparked widespread panic and initial, unconfirmed reports on social media that she had died by suicide.
Her management later retracted these reports, confirming she was alive after previously publishing a statement announcing her death.
The situation escalated further when VDM was seen in a separate video appearing to consume a substance from a Hypo sachet, an act widely interpreted as a response to the trend.
Since then, numerous online content creators have reportedly mimicked the act in skits and videos, using Hypo sachets to simulate suicide attempts. This has drawn sharp criticism from parents, activists, and concerned Nigerians, who describe the trend as disturbing and a serious public health risk.
Many are now calling on authorities to penalize those promoting such content due to its potential to influence impressionable young social media users to cause themselves harm.