Ex BBA housemate, JJ is depressed and suicidal. Cries for help

2014 Big Brother Africa Hotshots contestant Jerome Arab known as JJ, who stayed all the way to the last day says he's broke, depressed, hates his life and has become suicidal. The Zimbabwean singer, rapper, actor, songwriter and director said he expected his life to change after appearing on the show, but things have gotten worse as there's so much more pressure on him now to make something of his life. JJ says he's just an ordinary unemployed Zimbabwean struggling to make ends meet.

“The truth is that I am broke and going through a rough patch. I am a pedestrian, I didn’t win the jackpot and I am probably poorer than I was before BBA,” he admitted.

"So many things are piling in my life and it doesn’t seem like there is an immediate solution for me. It stressed me so much I had to go for a psychological analysis."

JJ talks more about his situation in an interview with Zimbabwean journalist Chipo Sabeta.



CS:HI JJ HOW ARE YOU?

JJ:Hi sister, it’s been long and not rosy. Before I say much, people think life on TV is amazing but I want you to tell them that is neither real no rosy.



CS:WHY?

JJ:There is so much I want to do and I am funding everything from my pocket. I am also looking after my granny,my mum and daddy will be coming back for my sister’s wedding and they want my help as well. They are in Zambia. The truth is that I am broke and ggoing through a bad patch.



CS:WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM

JJ:Of course, everyone , everyone in the country is goign through the same challenges but I feel my situation is complex, I am an entertainer and the industry in Zimbabwe is not paying.

I tried everything but nothing came up. I have a Diploma in Media and And television Studeies but I have not used that certificate since I obtained it. I tried recording but nothing is paying. SO many things are piling in my life and it doesn’t seem like there is an immediate solution for me. It stressed me so much that I had to go for a psychological analysis.



CS:HOW DID THAT GO?

JJ: I was scared to go there for the first time. The first session was intense. The process they give you a book and things to fill out.

I had started losing weight and my friend referred me there to a pyschologist. They must have got me on a bad day and started questioning me on little things. To cut the long story short, they then referred me to South African for rehabilitation.



CS:WHEN DO YOU START?

JJ: Today(yesterday) was my final day of counselling. The psychologist asked me how I feel since I have done so much work. I have tried everything at all cost but life has never brought me any good. I am trying music, recording, acting but there is nothing happening.

They were worried. The most stressed people are suicidal. But my handlers thought otherwise. They insist that my situation was normal and it is basically what everyone could be going through.

Its not too serious yet. They said when its gets serious, it gets bad to the extent on self-harm, like cutting myself. They physically checked my body for signs of self harm.

It was not the case with me. That’s why they released me. Today was my final day.



CS:YOUR BRIEF BACKGROUND?

JJ: I am an adopted child, my mother gave up on me when I was two weeks old because she could not take care of me since she was only 13 years old. Her name was Natalie Hellen Hussey. I only heard about her death in 2007. I have never met my dad and I don’t know if he is alive or not. I have four sisters from my mother’s side and I have only met three of them. I am told one is in Canada.



CS: WHO ADOPTED YOU?

JJ: My parents are Yasin and geraldine Arab. They took care of me, schooled me and sent me to the UK when I was 17 years old. I have two sisters in my adopted family. They are in Zambia at the moment taking care of my granny.



CS:AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

JJ: Things were not rosy in Zimbabwe around 2008 and my parents decided to send us to the United Kingdom. We were going to stay there with my aunty(mum’s sister) but upon arrival, they only accepte my sister. They had no accomodation. My(adopted) sister got a life and she even got married.



CS;SHAME, HOW WERE YOU MANAGING THEN?

JJ: I was only 17 and life was difficult. I managed to work formally which I did for nearly a year. I had three jobs then, however upon losing my documents, everything went wrong, I could not afford paying taxes and everything was complicated because I was sleeping in gym backyards, restaurants and hospitals for the better part of my years in the UK.

However I managed to raise money to come back home. Surprisingly the migration official handed me my passport that day.

CS: HOW DID YOUR PROBLEMS START?

JJ: I think they are the largely attributed to my upbringing. Sometimes I find myself breaking down alone. I can’t face the reality of not knowing my biological parents despite the smooth upbringing my adopted parents gave me until I finished school.



CS: AND BIG BROTHER DID IT NOT OPEN OPPORTUNITIES?

JJ:When I left for big brother, I realised it was not everything in life. The fame it brings is not rosy.



CS:WHAT HAS LIFE BEEN LIKE POST BBA?

JJ:I started receiving hate mails and it’s been bad for me. I was accused of a lot of things especially from those who claim that I sabotaged their favourite players. There is a tendency of judging people but the truth is that we are as good as people in the street and I am one of those people who doesn’t pretend.



CS:HEALTH WISE?

JJ:Pheww. I am not in good shape. My blood pressure is too high and it’s been like that for a month. They insist that I must stay calm but I don’t think it’s right to take them seriously at the moment.



CS:DO YOU DRINK?

JJ:I was an alcoholic. I used to abuse alcohol since I was a teenager and upon my return from UK i then decided to quit for two months before I entered the BBA house. I know what type of a person I become when I get drunk. I eaily break down and get depressed.



CS:BUT YOU ARE ALSO A TALENTED ARTISTE?

JJ: The industry is full of people who can sell a dream but do nothing to help you or put you on the map. Musically, I am working on some stuff with Bashupi. We have a recorded track schedule for release any day.



CS: WHAT ARE YOUR ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS?

JJ: Diploma in Media and TV studies.



CS:MARITAL STATUS

JJ: (laughing) You think I can afford to marry in such a case? Do you really understand what I am going through? I am very single ad I don’t have plans of settling with anyone at the moment. I really need time to recover from what I am going through.



CS:WHERE DO YOU STAY?

JJ:Hatfield. I use a cottage at my uncle’s house and I am staying there for free but I feel like a burden because I am a grown man who should be taking care of himself.



CS:HOW ARE YOU SURVIVING?

JJ:It’s tough, that’s all I can say. I am lucky that I a getting part of my parents’ rent from the Mt Pleasant house but the money is only meant for food.



CS: WHAT DISTINGUISES YOU FROM OTHERS?

JJ: I can easily be described as a fun, ambitious, happy, loving and warm person but I dislike people who are “full of themselves”.

I don’t lie. I speak the truth and I don’t pretend. I am not ashamed to speak out my condition.



CS: WHAT TYPE OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE?

JJ: I don’t own a car. The one I used today belongs to my sister because I had appointments because I had appointments with the psychiatrists and you..(laughing) I use public transport.



CS:HOW DID YOU MAKE IT TO BIG BROTHER?

JJ: A friend of mine took me for auditions in 2013 but I only managed to be a fake housemate. I ws among si fake housemates on Big brother Afric. I only got US$1 000 for those two weeks on TV



CS: AND REPRESENTING ZIM?

JJ:It feels good but its not what people think it is. It’s also frustrating in the house and there are many challenges.



CS:YOU WERE NOT WELL KNOWN HERE BEFORE BIG BROTHER?

JJ: True probably because I was in the UK for some time and I had nothing on my name in the entertainment circles. Of course it was because of the years in Europe. I was only in Zimbabwe for two years before I tried BBA.



CS: WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH POWER FM DJ BUTTERPHLY PHUNK?

JJ; She was my mate and we get along . She is a cool sisters. But after the game, everyone heads home and minds their own business. We talk though, we are cool.



CS: LIFE AFTER BBA

JJ: I was among the last group and having spent three months in the house , it’s painful to have nothing to show. I left the house empty handed. Upon my arrival, I had to help my granny pay her medical bills and start life all over again. It was like starting from ZERO.

Besides being called at Multichoice official functions, there is really nothing to show for it. I am a pedestrian, I didn’t win the jackpot and I am probably poor than I was before BBA.

However I enjoyed and learnt more about people’s cultures. It’s a good platform for uniting Africa because it’s a chance that everyone wanted.



CS: AND IF YOU HAD WON THE BIG 300K CHEQUE?

JJ: I was going to expand my music career onto the international stage, refurbish my parents house and also donate to charity.



CS:WHAT KEEPS YOU OCCUPIED?

JJ: I am a writer. I am working on a book to portray my bad traits and how some of them have been haunting me. At times I do menial coaching to sports students at Prince Edward. I was a semi professional rugby player. They don’t pay me but it’s just a way of giving back to the community, that’s my former school.



CS:YOU ALSO HAVE A PASSION FOR SINGING?

JJ: I love singing, it annoys my family but I believe I will make it. Like I said, I have done a track with BaShupi and its recorded. I am hoping it will be released soon but he is away in Zambia.



CS: HOW ABOUT ACTING?

JJ: I am good at that too but still nothing is coming my way to put food on the table.



CS:OTHER ARTISTES YOU HAVE WORKED WITH?

JJ: Bashupi, Simba TAx, who is a singer and producer, Revarb 7(producer) ad Kelly Rusike.

CS: ANY HOPES OF GOING BACK TO UK?



JJ: No, a big NO, I will never go back there. It’s better to struggle from home than in a foreign land. Of course, I still want to to explore countries like America and Canada.

Little girl donates 10k from her savings to Buhari's campaign? Hehe!

Awww...how sweet! According to @GMBVolunteers twitter handle, the little girl on stage above read her heartwarming letter to GMB in which she mentioned that she donated N10,000 from her savings to his campaign.*Yimz*...hehe! But so nice of her!

Don’t Be Afraid Of Jail, Buhari’s Wife Aishat Tells Patience‎ Jonathan

Aishat Buhari, wife of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, has advised the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, to jettison any fear of being jailed if Mr. Buhari wins the forthcoming election, saying Nigerians are more concerned with changing the way the country is administered.

Mrs. Jonathan has repeatedly spoken at campaign rallies for her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, about her fear of a Buhari presidency, saying the former military ruler will jail Mr. Jonathan and other leaders of the present government.

In Edo State on Tuesday, the first lady warned women against voting in Mr. Buhari, saying she was not prepared to feed her husband in prison.

But at a rally where she interacted with women in Edo State Thursday, Aishat Buhari said there should be no concerns about going to jail.

Mrs. Buhari also said that the attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to portray her husband as a religious fanatic, is a desperate attempt to hoodwink the people, saying only those who want to loot the treasury are the ones campaigning with religion.

“Each zone of the country has its peculiar problem. For me in this zone, girl-child trafficking should be considered one of our problems, though I know there is unemployment. Unemployment is the major factor that contributes to brain drain and also the girl-child trafficking. General Muhammadu Buhari is a leader who led Nigeria some decades ago and he is coming back now to sanitise the system,” Mrs. Buhari said.

“For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is. But they shouldn’t be afraid, because we are all yearning for change. The insecurity in the country, the very poor healthcare system, lack of education and other basic necessities that people are lacking I believe Nigerians need somebody like General Muhammadu Buhari now.

“Already, they have painted him black, using religion. I’m happy today that Nigerians realize that they use religion as a cover to loot Nigeria. Any politician who talks to you about religion is a liar, he only wants to loot the treasury and the little resources you ought to enjoy. So say no politics merging it with religion to deceive the people.

“I’m here today to let Edo women know that when my husband is elected into office as President, all these will be history. The insecurity, the girl-child trafficking, suffering of the widows in the South East will come to an end. There must be a cultural design that can accommodate the widow. A design that would make the girl-child comfortable wherever she is in this country. She doesn’t have to leave her country to go and prostitute elsewhere, it’s not her portion. Her portion is to have a highly standard and moral society for her to live in. Get married, have children, train them and also mould them to become the future leaders.

“We are here today to also let you know that the collection of your PVCs is important and don’t ever sell it. It’s like selling your future. If you sell it for N5,000, you won’t see N5,000 again until after four years which will be bad. Get your PVC, vote for APC, vote for freedom, vote for a new Nigeria with good security, good education, good healthcare, good roads and all the basic necessities.”

In his address to the women, Governor Adams Oshiomhole urged them to vote for the APC since the PDP has failed in 16 years to deliver on electricity and other basic infrastructure.

According to him, the PDP government fleeces even the poor through kerosene sale.

“In 16 years, PDP did not provide light, we provide the transformers to the communities but the PDP Federal Government cannot power the lights. They collect fixed charges from the people when there is no fixed light.

“They say there’s power reforms, however instead of reform, they deform. They advertised to employ people into the Nigeria Immigration Service and use private company to charge the applicants N1, 000 each. The private company collected over N800 million from poor youths and took them to the stadium to conduct an interview, at the end people died. Instead of the Minister in charge to be reprimanded, he was given national honours.

“You need to understand the issues. Our call for change and for people to vote for the APC and vote out the PDP is because the PDP has completely failed and deceived the people for 16 years. So they must go home.”

The people must vote for APC to return Nigeria from darkness to light, from unemployment to employment and from insecurity to security.”

He flayed some religious leaders who want to polarize the country along religious lines, saying the problems facing the country affect both Christians and Moslems so Nigerians should ignore the attempt to hoodwink them and preach hatred using the religion card.

In an address of welcome, wife of the state Deputy Governor, Endurance Odubu, said Nigerians have made up their minds to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress.

She noted the achievements of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Edo State and said when voted into power, Mr. Buhari will replicate it at the national level.

She assured Aishat Buhari that Edo women will vote massively for the APC.

Buhari's wife claps back at Mama Peace, says don't be afraid of jail

Remember when First Lady Patience Jonathan, while campaigning, told the crowd that voting for APC means voting to go to prison as the APC presidential candidate was planning to jail political opponent if he wins the election and she can't be visiting her husband in prison? Well, Buhari's wife subtly clapped back at the First Lady during a women's rally in Edo State today.



According to Vanguard, Mrs Buhari addressed this, saying people shouldn't be afraid, that they were only interested in change. She also addressed the notion that her husband is a religious fanatic.

Each zone of the country has its peculiar problem. For me in this zone, girl-child trafficking should be considered one of our problems, though I know there is unemployment. Unemployment is the major factor that contributes to brain drain and also the girl-child trafficking. General Muhammadu Buhari is a leader who led Nigeria some decades ago and he is coming back now to sanitise the system.. For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is. But they shouldn’t be afraid, because we are all yearning for change.

The insecurity in the country, the very poor healthcare system, lack of education and other basic necessities that people are lacking I believe Nigerians need somebody like General Muhammadu Buhari now. Already, they have painted him black, using religion. I’m happy today that Nigerians realize that they use religion as a cover to loot Nigeria. Any politician who talks to you about religion is a liar, he only wants to loot the treasury and the little resources you ought to enjoy. So say no politics merging it with religion to deceive the people. I’m here today to let Edo women know that when my husband is elected into office as President, all these will be history. The insecurity, the girl-child trafficking, suffering of the widows in the South East will come to an end. There must be a cultural design that can accommodate the widow. A design that would make the girl-child comfortable wherever she is in this country. She doesn’t have to leave her country to go and prostitute elsewhere, it’s not her portion. Her portion is to have a highly standard and moral society for her to live in. Get married, have children, train them and also mould them to become the future leaders. We are here today to also let you know that the collection of your PVCs is important and don’t ever sell it. It’s like selling your future. If you sell it for N5,000, you won’t see N5,000 again until after four years which will be bad. Get your PVC, vote for APC, vote for freedom, vote for a new Nigeria with good security, good education, good healthcare, good roads and all the basic necessities.”

Photos: Make-up free Kylie Jenner steps out in see-through leggins

The 17 year old was spotted out and about in Calabasas near her home yesterday with no make-up and wearing see-through leggins. More photos after the cut...

Chris Brown reportedly threatens to sue Oprah is Karrueche slanders him on TV

MediaTakeOut is claiming that Chris Brown plans to fight back and has threatened to sue Oprah if Karrueche slanders him on TV. Read the report below...

"MTO just got word of an explosive bit of tea. Chris Brown is fighting back against the slander piece that Karrueche and Iyanla planned to air against him in two weeks.

We spoke to a member of Chris Brown's team who told us that yesterday Chris Brown's attorney fired off a cease and desist letter to Oprah Winfrey and her OWN channel. The letter basically says that they can not slander his name, or try and use his name or likeness in their show without his consent.

We're told that Chris spoke to his advisors and realizes that there is a BIG SLANDER CAMPAIGN being lodged against him. Instead of handling the way he USUALLY DOES SO - by BLACKING OUT on Instagram . . . he's going to handle everything PROPERLY and LEGALLY.

We asked whether they thought that Chris CEASE AND DESIST LETTER TO OPRAH was just an empty threat. They told us, "It's not empty at all, we will sue the F*CK outta Oprah, OWN, or whoever, if they slander Chris or use his name."

OOOOH it's about to go DOWN!!

Photos: Rita Dominic steps out in stunning pink Tiffany Amber dress

The actress stunned in a pink Oliva dress by Nigerian designer, Tiffany Amber at the launch of Pink Account by Keystone bank this afternoon.