Celebrity wedding photographer David Martins has broken his silence after his wife Alicia publicly accused him of domestic violence, claiming instead that he was the actual victim of abuse and emotional manipulation throughout their marriage.
Martins, known for capturing high-profile celebrity weddings, detailed his side of the story in a lengthy statement that has since gone viral.
“Contrary to the allegations that have been made, I was in fact the victim of domestic violence and emotional abuse in our relationship,” he stated.
He admitted he noticed red flags early on but ignored them.
“I will not pretend that I did not see the signs before we got married, but I was too carried away by my feelings for Alicia. The stories that have been told privately and publicly about how Alicia was abused are entirely false and an intentional agenda to hurt me.”
According to Martins, the first violent incident occurred on 19 May 2024. He said Alicia frequently destroyed property when angry, throwing his clothes out of the closet, bleaching them, and forcing him to lock away his work equipment and the household television in his brother’s room.
He described one attack in particular:
“On one occasion, she attacked me from behind and hit my ear, causing it to bleed. She was very prolific in attack throughout the relationship.”
Focusing on the highly publicised 7 May 2026 incident, Martins insisted the bloodstains on their son’s clothing were his own.
“Alicia bit my finger and tried to chew it off to the point where I was bleeding profusely. Alicia claims that the clothing is with the police and I dare her to produce the clothing to test whose blood it is indeed.”
He claimed Alicia left their infant alone while she went for a walk, returned angry over him downloading Snapchat, smashed a standing fan, blocked his exit, and then screamed for neighbours after biting him.
Martins also shared screenshots of conversations between Alicia and gospel singer Neon Adejo, which he described as flirty and inappropriate. In the chats, Neon sent Alicia 150,000 naira, requested selfies, and assured her that his wife does not check his messages.
Reacting to the accusations, Neon denied any wrongdoing.
“Dear Mr. Aesthetics Online, Everybody is not like you. I would never take advantage of a woman in a vulnerable state. How low is it to tell the world that you put your wife in a vulnerable state and were still being intimate with her?” Neon wrote.
He explained that he only asked for a selfie after arranging for a friend to style Alicia’s hair and that his wife was fully aware of his limited visits to check on her welfare.
“I literally became a man responsible for two sons because I couldn’t watch a woman and a child struggle and do nothing. Shame on you for trying to manipulate this situation and paint me in a bad light. Own your actions. Seek help.”
Martins further rejected Alicia’s claim that she was treated like a slave, stating that she neither cooked nor cleaned. He said they ordered meals, he cooked himself, or his mother prepared food for them, while a cleaner came three times a week.
The photographer said he stayed silent for a long time out of fear of being labelled weak.
“As a man, I found it extremely difficult to speak out and complain that I was being abused by my wife. I only discussed the matter with my family members and very close friends… This fear kept me silent for a long time, and I now regret that I stayed silent for this long.”
The conflicting accounts have left many Nigerians divided, with some calling for caution and full investigation while others debate whose version of events holds more weight. Both parties have referenced police involvement, and the matter continues to unfold publicly.