Popular Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, has come under criticism after a video surfaced showing her walking barefoot in the massive pot she is using for her attempt to cook the world’s largest jollof rice.
The video, which emerged just hours after the cook-off commenced, captured the Guinness World Record hopeful inside the pot, cleaning it with water and dishwashing liquid before cooking began.
While some fans dismissed the act as harmless since it happened before food preparation, others expressed discomfort over the optics. A medical doctor, identified as Adeshina (@the_beardedsina) on X, strongly condemned the act, stressing its psychological impact.
“There is a mental optics that comes with seeing Hilda walk in the pot with bare feet, in which food will be prepared in and given to people to eat. The brain can’t detach the two scenarios and it is an unpleasant one,” he wrote.
The post has since gone viral, sparking heated debate on social media. While critics argue that it was unhygienic and unnecessary, supporters counter that the pot was being cleaned and no food had yet been prepared in it.
Reactions trailing Hilda Baci’s barefoot walk in jollof pot
SemiNigerian reacted: “Till you see how they get palm oil.”
Orfega007 noted: “This particular part shouldn’t have made it online sha.”
HOLARMEEDEY1 opined: “You are right. Your mind keep going to back to the fact that she’s stepping into the pota with her bare legs.. But doc, it won’t matter when she is giving out the smoky jollof rice 🤣🤣🤣🤣. We go eat am like that.”
Updated_CEO stated: “Nawahoooo how una want make she take wash am again …. Nawah.”
DEFI_WOLVE added, “I really don’t want to think about the negative side cos if you do, you’d miss the whole creativity she’s pulling off here. She has already said she would wipe with new mop sticks which she showed in the video. Let’s try and encourage her than to set up a clause for dragging.”
tboysquare said: “True, but that same brain should let people know that there’s no way she won’t wash her leg, and the food is going into extreme heat, I’ll kill all the germs anyway..”
Watch the video below
Hilda Baci washing the big pot in preparation for the big event happening today! 🫣🔥 pic.twitter.com/heYdJLdgB7
— TENIOLA (@Teeniiola) September 12, 2025
