Cardi B shrugs off Maduka Okoye dating rumours, says fame comes with scrutiny

Rapper Cardi B has addressed speculation surrounding her rumoured romance with Nigerian football star Maduka Okoye, saying she has grown used to the intense public scrutiny that comes with her fame.

The "Bodak Yellow" hitmaker shared her thoughts in a video posted on her Instagram Story, seen by TNX Africa, shortly after she was seen dining with the Germany-based goalkeeper and friends in Venice, Italy.

Addressing the constant attention on her private life, Cardi B said she feels like she is under constant scrutiny.

"Honestly, I'm basically hip-hop's Britney Spears," she said, comparing her experience to the pop icon's years of intense media attention.

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She added that while she knows plenty of secrets about other celebrities and their relationships, they rarely receive the same level of coverage because the public is less interested.

"I got all the tea on these celebrities... I know who's with who and what's doing what. But guess what? Nobody reports about it. You want to know why? Because nobody cares. But when it comes to me... I can't even... do anything without people talking about it. This is crazy. You've got to take the good with the bad. It is what it is. People pay for this type of talk."

The "WAP" rapper said she is frustrated that even ordinary moments in her life become headline news. However, she acknowledged that intense public interest comes with fame and accepted that gossip is part of her reality.

Her comments come amid widespread rumours linking her to Okoye after the pair were seen dining at an upscale restaurant in Venice. Speculation had already intensified weeks earlier when they were spotted sitting together at a Paris fashion show.

Cardi B's most public relationship was with fellow rapper Offset.

The couple secretly married in September 2017, but their relationship was marked by public breakups, divorce filings and reconciliations.

Their marriage officially ended in July 2024.

Before marrying Offset, Cardi B dated reality TV personality Tommy Geez between 2015 and 2016 during her early days on Love & Hip Hop: New York.

She later had a brief relationship with DJ Self in 2016.

Following her split from Offset, Cardi B was linked to NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs in 2025.

The pair later went public with their relationship and welcomed a baby boy later that year.