This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Published on July 2, 2020, Anita Nderu's cooking show sparked controversy after she invited gay men as guests.
Many Kenyans took to social media to express their disappointment and anger, with some accusing her of promoting a product, Fresh Fri cooking oil, in a way that was perceived as sexualized.
Responding to the backlash, Anita Nderu claimed that the show was not scripted and that her guests were simply being themselves.
"I respect your opinion. I simply asked my friends to come on my web show and be themselves. What any of us have chosen to do on the show is how each of us is. Nothing about my show is scripted. What you see from the guests, food to outcome is what actually genuinely took place," she said.
However, the company behind Fresh Fri cooking oil, Pwani Life, denied having any deal with Anita Nderu, stating that they had not contracted her to market their product.
As the controversy continued to unfold, some people defended Anita Nderu, accusing her critics of being hypocritical.
