- Former Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua has issued a public apology after making controversial statements on his TikTok account
- Mbugua, who recently pleaded for financial assistance and received support from fans, faced criticism after a video of him making incoherent statements went viral
- In the video, Kimani shocked his followers by threatening to refund the money that had been fundraised for him, leaving many concerned about his mental well-being
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Former Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a video surfaced on his TikTok account.
Why was Mbugua apologising?
The video showed him making incoherent statements and threatening to refund money raised for him through a fundraiser.
In the now-viral video, Kimani appeared to backtrack on the support he had received, raising concerns among his fans and followers.
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However, the journalist took to TikTok again in a live session to issue a public apology and clarify the circumstances surrounding his previous statements.
"Imagine, I had the audacity to ask you all to reverse the money you sent me," expressed Kimani during the live session.
"I'm sorry, guys, I failed you all. I'm sorry, guys, for showing me your undying love and wanting to throw it all away," he added.
Netizens speculate Mbugua has relapsed
Speculations regarding Kimani's mental state and potential relapse into substance abuse surfaced following the controversial video.
However, Kimani dismissed these rumours, attributing his actions to a content strategy inspired by someone he admires, Nyako, who played a role in organising the fundraising efforts.
"Nyako is my role model. I stole some strategy from her. Just say controversial things. Just find things to make you controversial," he said.
"What about me can be controversial apart from me doing substance abuse or I used to do substance abuse," explained Kimani, seeking to provide context to his recent behaviour.
The incident has sparked discussions on social media about the impact of public scrutiny on individuals and the challenges of navigating newfound fame.
Mbugua acknowledges he's depressed
In the past few days, Kimani has been actively participating in TikTok live sessions.
However, in his latest video, he seemed to be in better spirits and took a moment to explain the struggles he had been facing.
According to Kimani, this raw portrayal of himself is unfamiliar to many Kenyans, as most netizens are unaware of the extent of his condition.
In another video, Kimani disclosed that he is battling depression and expressed the need for medicine to alleviate his struggles.
"I am depressed. I need medicine. They are very expensive," Kimani conveyed with evident difficulty during the live session.
Kimani recalls dark day he lost his sanity
TUKO.co,ke previously reported that Mbugua would forever look back at the past two years as the period which shaped the man he became.
They were two years that saw him veer off the course of his life into alcoholism, substance abuse, and mental disorder before ending up at a mental hospital.
Kimani is, however, out of the woods and currently working on getting his life back just days after he was discharged.
In an interview with Faydee Media, the former Citizen TV presenter recalled the dark days when he helplessly watched his brand crumble.
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