Multipro Enterprise Limited, manufacturers of Hypo Bleach, has warned Nigerians against consuming the product, citing a viral controversy involving content creators King Mitchy and VeryDarkMan.

In an Instagram statement, the company’s marketing manager Adebayo Adeyemo emphasised that Hypo Bleach is strictly for cleaning purposes and not for consumption.

“Hypo Bleach, Nigeria’s number one bleach brand, is formulated to remove stains, whiten your white fabric, deodorize and kill 99.9% of germs. It is not a drink.

“It is not something to consume for the sake of trends,” the statement read.

The company expressed concern over videos and AI-generated images circulating online that portray Hypo as a beverage, describing the content as fabricated and dangerous.

“We want to be unambiguous: those images are fabricated, that framing is false, and anyone encouraging others to consume Hypo, even as a joke, even for views, is putting lives at risk,” the company stated.

The warning came after a heated online dispute between King Mitchy and VeryDarkMan reportedly led to a disturbing trend where some online creators simulated suicide attempts using Hypo sachets.

The company has appealed to influencers and content creators to act responsibly, emphasising the potential harm caused by promoting such trends.

“To every influencer, blogger, and content creator: Your reach is real. So is your responsibility. A trend that ends in ill-health is not a trend worth starting.”

Hypo Bleach urged young Nigerians to prioritise their safety and seek help if struggling emotionally, “You do not have to prove anything to anyone. Not online. Not offline. Not ever. If someone is pressuring you to try this, that is not a dare. That is harm.”

The situation worsened when VDM appeared in a video taking a substance from a Hypo sachet, which many saw as a reaction to the trend.

This sparked a wave of imitation, with online content creators using Hypo sachets to simulate suicide attempts in skits and videos.

The trend has drawn widespread criticism from parents, activists, and concerned citizens, who describe it as disturbing and dangerous.

Some people have called on the authorities to take action against those promoting such content, citing its potential impact on young social media users.