During an appearance on Jeremy Vine Extra, lawyer and activist Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu made headlines for her insistence on having her name pronounced correctly by the show's presenter, Dawn Neesom.
The exchange between the guest and host has garnered widespread praise on social media, highlighting the importance of respecting and acknowledging diverse names and identities.
During the show, presenter Dawn Neesom attempted to say Mos-Shogbamimu's full name but struggled with the pronunciation. Acknowledging her difficulty, Neesom asked, "How do you pronounce your name, Shola?"
Check out the moment below:In response, Mos-Shogbamimu firmly stated, "Read it, my dear." After a series of unsuccessful attempts by the host, Mos-Shogbamimu expressed her dissatisfaction, noting, "So this is terrible, especially for presenting," and explained that her surname could be pronounced phonetically.
Despite ongoing challenges, Neesom made another attempt to say her guest's name slowly but ultimately gave up, resorting to a simpler, "Shola, welcome to the show!" while laughing.
Video footage of the exchange was shared on Twitter, where it quickly gained traction with a caption that humorously highlighted Mos-Shogbamimu's insistence on proper pronunciation. The post received an impressive 6.6 million views and garnered supportive comments from users.
Many praised the lawyer for her determination to ensure the correct pronunciation of her name. One user commented on the unprofessionalism of the situation and applauded Mos-Shogbamimu for her stance.
Another user related to the experience, recalling the disrespect faced during school years when others struggled to pronounce their names correctly.
Author Bolu Babalola emphasized the importance of establishing correct pronunciation before a show, expressing appreciation for Mos-Shogbamimu's resolve. Neesom responded playfully, mentioning her own morning struggles with pronunciation.
This isn't the first time Mos-Shogbamimu has advocated for the proper pronunciation of her name. In a similar incident on Good Morning Britain, she encouraged presenter Kate Garraway to learn and say her name correctly. After some attempts, Garraway successfully enunciated Mos-Shogbamimu's name to applause from the guest.
In the end, Mos-Shogbamimu lightened the mood by mentioning that mispronunciation can happen to anyone, even with simpler names like "Smith."