Kenyan comedian Arap Uria faces backlash for repeated attempts to catch Peter Drury's attention

© Aarp Uria

FOOTBALL Kenyan comedian Arap Uria faces backlash for repeated attempts to catch Peter Drury's attention

Festus Chuma 20:23 - 30.09.2023

Kenyan comic Arap Uria faces criticism for repetitive stunts seeking Peter Drury's attention, despite past success, sparking online debate.

Kenyan social media sensation Arap Uria has stirred up controversy once again as he attempted to capture the attention of famed English Premier League commentator Peter Drury.

This marks the second time Uria has resorted to such tactics, previously succeeding in meeting the sports legend during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Adorned in his signature attire with two tin cups mimicking headphones, Arap Uria gained immense popularity with his online commentaries.

His antics during the World Cup, where he held a placard in the streets of Qatar hoping to reach Drury, resulted in a meeting between the two commentators after Jim Beglin acknowledged Uria's message.

However, in a surprising turn of events in September 2023, Uria resorted to a new stunt, posing next to a goat with a cardboard cutout reading, "Your gift Peter Drury." Sharing the photo on social media, he humorously inquired about getting a passport for the goat.

Despite his previous success and widespread celebration, this time around, Kenyans were not as supportive. Many expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that Uria's online antics had become repetitive and tedious. Critics suggested that he was pushing his luck too far with these desperate attempts to capture Drury's attention.

Several disappointed Kenyans urged Uria to quit the gimmickry, asserting that the time for such online stunts had passed. The Drury-related shenanigans, which once garnered widespread admiration, were now met with skepticism and disapproval.

In the face of the negative reactions, Arap Uria's tweet still managed to attract significant attention. The post, featuring the comedian and the goat, has already been viewed by over 1.3 million people and has accumulated more than 24,000 likes at the time of writing.

It remains to be seen whether Uria will take heed of the criticism and pivot away from the Drury-themed stunts that made him a sensation. 

As the online community in Kenya debates the line between entertainment and repetition, Arap Uria finds himself at a crossroads, navigating the delicate balance between maintaining relevance and respecting his audience's evolving expectations.

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