Spyro Reveals Childhood Trauma, Recalls Being Accused of Stealing by Pastor Father

Nigerian singer Spyro has opened up about painful experiences from his childhood, including what he described as repeated accusations and harsh punishment from his father.

The singer shared the experience during an interview with Arise TV broadcaster Rufai Oseni, where he spoke about how his upbringing affected his perception of himself.

According to Spyro, his father, whom he described as a pastor, would accuse him of stealing whenever money went missing in church.

He said the accusations were sometimes made in front of other people, leaving him embarrassed, particularly when the missing money was later found and it became clear that he was not responsible.

“My dad is a pastor. He will tell outsiders that this boy is a thief. Once money misses in church, he will point to me,” Spyro recalled.

The singer said his father’s actions were particularly painful because they created a public perception of him that he felt was undeserved.

Spyro also recalled an incident from his school days involving a cleaner whom he said scratched his head with her long fingernails.

He said he reported the incident to his father but was accused of lying and subsequently punished.

According to the singer, the punishment left a physical mark on his back that he says remains visible more than two decades later.

“When we got home, my dad flogged me and left a mark that’s still on my back 22 years later. It broke me because I told this man the truth and I suffered for it,” he said.

Spyro said the repeated experiences eventually affected the way he viewed himself. He explained that at some point, he began to feel that if his father already considered him a “terrible child”, there was little reason for him to behave differently.

“If not for the love from my mom and how she was able to constantly balance things up, it affected me because I felt since he believes I’m a terrible child, let me just be terrible,” he recalled.

The ‘Who’s Your Guy?’ singer credited his mother with providing the emotional support that helped him cope with the difficult experiences.

He said her love and efforts to provide balance at home played an important role in helping him navigate the impact of his childhood experiences.

“I broke up with my dad after I told him a school cleaner scratched my head with her long nails, but he called me a liar. We went to confront her, and she denied knowing me. When we got home, my dad flogged me and left a mark that’s still on my back 22 years later.”

—Spyro pic.twitter.com/a60zjWAMJM

— carter🌚 (@carter8f) September 16, 2026

Spyro’s account highlights how childhood experiences and repeated negative treatment from parents can shape a person’s perception of themselves long after the events have passed.