Popular Nigerian fashion designer Victoria James Atere, widely known as Veekee James, began the new year 2026 on a heartbreaking note. In an emotional video shared on Thursday, January 1, 2026, the celebrity broke down in tears while mourning the tragic loss of a newborn puppy from her dog Ava's litter.
A Tragic Start to the New Year
Veekee James detailed the unfortunate series of events that led to the puppy's death. She explained that her dog, Ava, had refused to mate with another dog named Chester for five years, leading her to believe pregnancy was unlikely. The designer was completely unaware that the dogs had eventually mated and that Ava was pregnant.
The situation took a tragic turn when Ava gave birth. One of the puppies died, and in a separate distressing incident, the mother dog bit off a limb from another puppy in the litter. Veekee James tearfully recounted that a veterinarian had only confirmed the pregnancy two days prior to the birth. She attributed the tragic outcomes to this lack of prior knowledge and proper preparation for the delivery.
Public Grief and Plea for Help
While mourning her loss, the fashion designer turned to her social media followers for support and practical advice. She specifically sought guidance from users with experience on how to care for the surviving puppy that had lost a limb. Her decision to share this deeply personal moment of sorrow publicly, however, ignited a wave of mixed reactions across Nigerian social media platforms.
Many netizens expressed genuine empathy for her pain, offering condolences and useful tips for the puppy's care. Others, however, criticized the act of recording and publishing such an intimate moment of grief, questioning whether it was a sincere expression of emotion or content created for attention.
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
The online commentary highlighted a divide in public perception. Some users defended Veekee James's right to express her grief, noting that the loss of a pet is a genuinely painful experience. Critics, however, questioned the necessity of a public display of private sorrow, with comments suggesting the act was performative. One user pointedly asked if "everything in your life need to be online for attention," while another humorously suggested she might have recorded her crying multiple times to get the perfect shot.
This incident follows previous online controversies involving the designer. Legit.ng had previously reported that Veekee James faced backlash after urging women to work hard to support their husbands, a message that also drew mixed reactions regarding gender roles and financial independence in relationships.
The video of Veekee James mourning remains a poignant start to her 2026, blending personal tragedy with the complex dynamics of celebrity life in the age of social media.
