Ghanaian singer Wendy Shay has dismissed long-standing claims that she was brought in to replace the late Ebony Reigns following the singer’s untimely death.
Speaking on UTV’s United Showbiz on October 26, Wendy Shay clarified that neither she nor her manager, Bullet, had ever stated that she was meant to take Ebony’s place.
“I never said anywhere that I was coming to replace Ebony. Bullet too never said that,” she said. “When you lose a loved one and they bring someone to replace her, were you supposed to love the replacement or not?”
Her response came after entertainment critic Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo, who was also on the show, admitted he was among those who initially received her entry into the music industry with skepticism due to the timing after Ebony’s passing.
“For those of us who have followed you from 2018 up till now, we know the kind of fire you passed through,” Arnold said. “I was one of the few people who disliked you when you were introduced in the industry. Because of the love we had for Ebony and the kind of introduction that was done, some of us were not feeling it like that. It was more to do with Ebony than you, and the timing felt off for a lot of people.”
He, however, lauded Wendy Shay for her perseverance and evolution as an artist, stressing that his early disapproval was not about her character or ability.
“You actually won me over, and I told you about how impressed I am with your growth. You’ve been very consistent from when you were unveiled on stage to date. Me not liking you then wasn’t about you,” he said.
Arnold added, “It was the fact that we were still grieving, we were mourning Ebony’s death, and the camp introduced someone new, so we felt like Ebony had been replaced already. I’m applauding you for your resilience and how you’ve been able to come this far.”
Wendy Shay, who was signed to RuffTown Records shortly after Ebony’s death in 2018, has often faced comparisons with the late singer. Her latest remarks seek to put those narratives to rest as she continues to carve her own identity in Ghana’s music scene.
Watch the video of their statements below.
