Comedian and Loose Women star Judi Love has implored the internet to stop sharing footage of Anthony Joshua’s car crash.
Yesterday, the 36-year-old professional boxer emerged injured after he was a passenger in a Lexus that crashed into a stationary truck in Makun, Nigeria.
The two-time heavyweight champion’s close friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, were killed in the accident. They are believed to have been travelling in the same Jeep as the athlete when the collision occurred on a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Both were close to Joshua throughout his career, with Ghami serving as a physio and a friend, while Ayodele – known as Latz – was seen playing table tennis with him just hours before the fatal crash.
Joshua was rushed to hospital afterwards and is now in a stable condition; his injuries are ‘minor’ but are also thought to involve ‘rib and knee problems’, as per the Daily Mail.
Social media has become flooded with videos of the aftermath of the crash, with Joshua in visible pain while attempting to exit the wreckage and receive aid, as well as more graphic footage of the deceased.
Consequently, TV star Love, who is friends with the sporting star, has issued a reminder to consider how ‘traumatic’ such videos are before reposting them.
Taking to her Instagram Story, the stand-up performer, 45, wrote against a black screen: ‘Please STOP posting and sharing videos or images of the AJ incident or any other horrific traumatic events.
‘People have lost their lives, and these images can deeply affect the families who are already grieving.’
She continued: ‘Think of their pain and the harm caused by publishing this content for their loved ones to see on social media.’
‘At this moment, AJ and the families truly need our prayers,’ she concluded, adding a praying hands emoji.
Love has long expressed her adoration for Joshua, sharing a light-hearted Reel as recently as Boxing Day, addressing American fans now discovering him and declaring: ‘He’s our man!’
‘We just want this eye candy for a little longer before you get your claws in,’ she quipped protectively.
‘The rumours are true. I’ve met him, I’ve had a conversation with him, he looks even better in person, he smells great … I’m just saying this honestly. You lot have got a list of beautiful Black men that you have in America,’ Love added, jokingly signing off: ‘With love.’
She’s not the only one expressing outrage over circulating videos of Joshua’s crash, with MMA fighter Darren Till also criticising people for filming it in the first place.
Taking to X, the 33-year-old boxer branded the behaviour ‘absolutely pathetic’.
‘If you want to know truly f***ed the world is just go and try and watch the Anthony Joshua car crash we’re he is getting dragged out of the car clearly not ok. And what are people doing? Filming [sic]’, he vented.
Till noted how ‘no one [had] the slightest of concern’.
Sending his well wishes, he said he ‘hopes [Joshua] is ok’ and that he is praying for the victims’ loved ones.
There was an outpouring of agreement to Till’s rant, with many calling the immediate urge to film ‘vile’ and asking for people to have ’empathy’.
In their own statement addressing the tragedy, which involved five people in total, Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s promoter, said: ‘With profound sadness it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele have tragically passed away.
‘Matchroom Boxing and 258 BXG can confirm that Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment. He is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation.
‘Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected – and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.
‘No further comment will be made at this time.’
Tributes have followed from fellow sporting icons, with Chris Eubank Jr posting on X: ‘Thank god our heavyweight champ survived that horrible car crash. And pray for the two fallen soldiers Latz & Sina & their families. I knew both… they were genuinely good men. Rest in Peace boys.’
Former YouTuber, now boxer, Jake Paul, who was defeated by Joshua earlier this month, also said: ‘RIP Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif / Latz” Ayodele. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends and AJ.’
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu further confirmed that he had spoken to Joshua to send his condolences and ‘wish him a full and speedy recovery’. They also prayed together.
‘AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care,’ Tinubu posted on social media.
‘I also spoke with his mother and prayed for her. She was deeply appreciative of the call.’
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