Ovie Soko on Fame, Basketball & Surviving Love Island

0:00Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad, and I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products, you have to go to Sephora. I'm obsessed with the One Size Liquid Blotting Paper Spray. It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden Plush Pear smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. like people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing which you know I love so if you want the makeup skincare hair and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with shop only at Sephora hey what's up people my name is Mo Gilligan and right now you're listening to my podcast beginning middle and end now I've got a really special guest for you lovely people today someone I've been trying to get on this podcast for ages he's a British basketball star and an all-time Love Island favourite.

0:57Now, we talk about unnamed fashion lines getting chased in Selfridges and what it's like being the British guy on a US college campus. And we also talk about life away from the villa and advertising for the likes of Christian Louboutin. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the podcast, Ovi Soko. Thanks for coming on, bro. Thanks for having me. I've been wanting to get you on the pod for a long time, man. Bro, I feel like you're a very, very interesting person. Oh, thank Thank you, bro. But, you know, that's why coming and sitting down, yeah, more than a privilege. I feel, yeah, very happy and very good to be here.

1:31No, I really, really appreciate it. Because that's what I was saying just before we started. I always feel like you're always somewhere moving around, whether it's... And look, it's easy to get a perception of what you see online. Do you know what I mean? Of like, oh, you know, I'm online, I can see this. But I generally thought you lived either in... I know you didn't live... Did you live in the States for a bit? Lived in the States, yeah. I was out there for seven years. Was that recently though? No, not recently. I went to visit, what, 2023 I think was the last time I would have visited. So I think that's why I was saying I thought you lived in France, Paris.

2:05Lived in France for two years, but one year I was living close to Bordeaux. And then the last time I was in Le Mans. Yeah. A bit closer to Paris. You know what I've always admired about you over the year? is that I feel like you are one of the people that was on a reality show and we know you for you and not for you being on a reality show. And the reason why I say that is because you stuck to the craft that you do. You've never changed from the moment. Do you remember the first time I met you? Oh, I remember I seen you. It was at, was it Crepes or something's birthday? It was on the, it was like a rooftop, like party vibe and you were kicking it.

2:45You were in the cut, just chilling. and that's where from then from that moment I was like yeah you're a very very interesting person because by the nature of your craft it's like yeah you could be in a room with so many people and be the life of the room because you have a skill set that allows you I vividly remember that do you remember that was it somewhere in West London or somewhere like that where was I think it might have been I just remember they had like a basketball court on the roof it was upstairs it was upstairs yeah yeah yeah that was the first time I ran into you oh yeah was that before you had done Love Island then?

3:17No, no, no, no, no. That was, I must have just came out. I just came out of Love Island them times. Because I first met you, do you remember when you'd done my show, Chunk 4? Yeah, yeah, yeah. But did I meet you that day? It was very brief, I think. It was very brief. It was very brief. It was very brief. Yes. You know, I just said, what's up, you know, just held you up and then, you know, kept it pushing. But from then, just from how observant I can see that you were. Yeah, yeah. You know, it gives a different view on, I don't know, the comedic space, what you must do and how you must see the world, innit?

3:50Yeah, yeah. I think it's also interesting like when you're in them spaces, I don't know, it's a party or a vibe. People look at you and it's like, come on in. You know why you got an invite, bro. You better tell these jokes, man. And me, it's like, if I'm comfortable around the people that I'm there with and everyone there was, if I can remember off the top of my head, was people that I know anyway. so it's like oh well I kind of know these people anyway so it doesn't feel like you must turn it on but then at the same time I'm like yeah like everyone's back and I'm sometimes my biggest problem is is that I get too comfortable so I can be in those rooms and everyone's busting joke and you know what I mean you might see the rapper and you're like well go on brother come with all the goons yeah and you know like the rappers are like yeah yeah yeah love it all innit love it love it all innit love it all love it all yeah But I think lucky enough, that gets me away with a lot because you can be funny.

4:47Do you know what I mean? How was it for you? Because I don't know if you know this, but when I had my show, when you was on Love Island, you was like the star of Love Island. Like, I think you're, especially the group of people you had on there as well. I think Amber was on there as well. Was I right in saying that, was Olivia on there as well? Olivia Atwood? No, Olivia, it was Tommy, Molly, more so that would have been the year after yeah yeah but what was what the reason why i bring that up because i remember that summer so vividly and i felt like it was a summer that felt like it was like it was captured with like i don't know if the world cup or something was on maybe football was on and it was a time where it was just like right we got black man on tv and we got yourself on a show which is like, we don't really get to man them on TV like this.

5:41Does that make sense? Do you know what I mean? And I felt like there was a lot of, especially young black men that was like, oh, right, I feel like I know this guy. And I want him to win. I really want him to win. Like, yeah, you want to win the program, but I just want him to win in life. Do you know what I mean? And I feel like you was a guy who like, ladies liked, but also guys like to be around. Does that make sense? Because it's one of them guys, hey, what's going on, my buddy? he pulled out yeah we said hey hey see them things there hey they would have told you but obviously bring man in as well with it like well like i remember vividly because on the show i kept saying to the exec um big up rianne i said listen we have to get over you on the show man and i remember channel four at the time was like yeah but you know it's like you know like and i was just like get him on the sofa i was like this guy's a star in it and it's like it's so interesting because that was a point for me on TV where you realise that there's so many different cooks in the kitchen.

6:37Do you know what I mean? I was like, yeah. And I was just like, okay, what about, you know, we bring him out, but it's a surprise because I think you had just come out. Yeah. But I think you was fresh out. I was fresh. Three, four days, didn't it? I didn't know nothing about television. I didn't know nothing about the set up. Bro, I came out, I seen the audience. I was, yeah. But the place went off. I think, who was on the show that day? It might have been... I can't remember off the top in my head I just remember Was Jada Pinkett on the show? I don't I remember it was No, no, no, no, no It would have No, it wasn't Jada Pinkett Was it Anderson?

7:13Anderson Pack It was Anderson Pack Yeah It was Anderson Pack It was Anderson Pack Yeah But I just remember you being on the show and there was a part of me that was like oh my god like one, the room erupted I'll never forget the room erupted but there was also a part of me that was like how are how is this guy coping with this you know i mean like because you know you're from you're from you're from topden right yeah yeah yeah so how was it when you kind of you know you'd left and you know you had a career before yeah you even went in the house you was a somebody before and i think for a lot of people they don't understand that like some people go into that place and find themselves but you were someone before you know you had a career yeah so how was it like once you had kind of got out and this is what i think it's for 2019 yeah 2019 um it was a big surprise first and foremost you know because it was more of um i don't want to say an experiment but just a way to do something different in my off season you know my life since i was 12 13 when i started playing basketball everything revolved around the sport like most most athletes yeah yeah and I was just a bit exhausted, a bit run down from, you know, just the routine of training, practice, games, winning, losing.

8:37It's a rollercoaster every season, mentally, physically, emotionally. So I wanted to just detach from it. So, you know, the opportunity to go on this TV show, I didn't know too much about the loss of reality. I was really aware of before I left to go to the States was Big Brother. but that was what I sort of thought about when they said we had ATV. So I didn't know how big it was. I didn't know how intense it would be on the back, and I didn't really expect anything of it. And I've come out and, yeah, like people are acting mad. What's some of the maddest encounters you had when you first got out?

9:19Bro, when I came out, I went to Selfridges with some of my boys. oh people are running across the street almost getting hit by cars like they're stopping traffic um the security had to start uh ushering me through selfridges and i'm like yeah bro my guys from the ends are like yeah fam it's mad it's mad and i'm just like taking i'm taking everything on board and just trying to yeah just process what is happening um and i've not seen what these people have seen. I don't know who they think I am. Yeah, yeah. So it's just a wave of, I don't know, anxiety, excitement, uncertainty. Yeah, it's a very weird space to be in.

10:07And then you're a black man. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's something that, it is a factor. You know, I start to see certain things online and it's like, you're people like you and it's, oh, we've never seen a black man viewed this way and black man this and black man that. Not just a man, not just a human. It's like you're a black man. So now it's added this extra layer of, I don't know, pressure. It's like, oh shit, am I all of a sudden the spokesman or what I do now matters. Did that feel like a lot of pressure at the time? It felt like a weight, you know what I mean? Because it wasn't something I asked for.

10:48It wasn't necessarily chasing limelight. it's not really my personality I wouldn't say so it was just tricky you know yeah understanding that and seeing that I think I guess that probably comes from a place of like when you was on that show it's the it's the realization that you're you don't even know it but everyone at home is like super rooting for you do you know I mean as we watch the show absolutely but then I think a lot what people don't realise once the show is it ends, you go back into life. But your life is obviously different. But I guess it's the thing of some people are like, yeah, well, you go back into life and he's a normal person.

11:30That's got to live life like everyone else. We've also this new found, I wouldn't say fame, but definitely attention. Do you know what I mean? It's the attention of like, okay, what did he do? Did he like this person's person? and he's not and I can't imagine what that must have felt like but also I think there was also a lot of goodwill behind it where people was like yeah this is this guy's one of the man like do you know what I mean especially from I guess from from my perspective of seeing it from the outside where you're like I really want to get this guy on my show because he's mad vibey but for me it was also like I know this is what the people want if that makes sense it was like yeah because we get a ton of guests oh this person and I was like let's go get Ovi man that's what the people want they want to tune in and be like yeah there's Ovi on TV so you had a life before this playing basketball was that always what you wanted to do like in terms of playing the sport because it's such a juxtaposition to where you are now in some ways yeah it was I would always used to say I always used to say sorry that it was always what I wanted to do but I think it's where I found safety i found safety i found a space that i was appreciated i found a space where it seemed like people needed me you know i wasn't the best student i wasn't the the star pupil i would get suspended and this that and the third and then you know labeled with all of these things that a lot of young black boys get labeled you know you can't pay attention in class etc etc so So for so long, I was being told, you're naughty, you're this, you're that, the third.

13:16And all of a sudden I found a space where I was like, oh, wait, no. It had that cultural blend with the music culture that I was interested in. I would show up and it's like, yeah, we're happy you're here. And, you know, it was, I would say, a place that I found safety. And that sort of flourished into something that I would want to do always, because I always wanted to be in that safe space. because you studied you said you went to America and you studied and played out did you study out there yeah communications and then I minored in journalism what's it like out there because I had a friend who played sport out there and I need to know if this is true but he played he played American football out there and he was like because I was British and I was playing out there yeah levels they were just like one it was crazy like girls would just be like just say anything but also they were like they just assumed I was smart so in terms of studying wise they're like yeah he's alright listen just play quarterback or whatever you gotta do is it true?

14:16anything you say they just think it's profound you're just here pronouncing whole words you're pronouncing full sentences and I'm not gonna lie you get out of there I don't know if you would have experienced it or you would have done it you know but yeah you start speaking in a way that you know what I mean I'll be in shops ordering We've been talking about the whole menu, bro. I'll be in Chick-fil-A. Excuse me. Can I please order what's at the top of that menu? What is that? When we first used to go out there, me and all my friends, yeah, this is like 2022, I'd say. We're in Chick-fil-A with that.

14:56Are you, man? Shall we get the melon salad? I don't know, you know, fam. I'm conflicted.

15:09trust me do you know what I mean so you know you would have fun with it and it was something that yeah so I got out there and played sports for I was out there seven years two years in high school which would have been the equivalent of college over here excuse me and then I went on to university and played college sports what university did you go to? I went to UAB Alabama, Birmingham so that was you know obviously in alabama and then i transferred for my last two years to a school up in pittsburgh pennsylvania oh that's so different boy very different so high school was in virginia i went to university in alabama and pittsburgh what was the south like alabama i mean you've been to the south yeah it's um southern hospitality yeah it's a real thing it's so real you know and it's so friendly.

16:04Mad friendly. It's crazy. I think I would say it's probably the most friendliest part of America. Yeah. Like wherever you go and you speak and people are like, oh, hey, what's up, darling? How you doing? Would you like some tea? Don't worry. I'll come over and bring some honey for you now. Yeah. And you sit there like, is this real? Is it real? You're from London. And I think I didn't realize it until you get there. But there are times where you would say, oh, darling, what you doing here? I'm from London. Ah, that's where the king is, right? And you're like, yeah. I didn't know there was black people over there.

16:39Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I got that one a lot. I got that one a lot. But yeah, it was just a different experience, you know. I all of a sudden found myself in the States and everywhere I went, I was not only the athlete, but I was the British athlete. So I didn't always necessarily fit in. So I spent a lot of the time in the States. one trying not to fuck it up yeah yeah you know because you know i'm leaving the uk i had that not the best schooling experience so now that i had the opportunity to go out there on scholarship i'm like all right look look myself in the mirror i told myself yeah don't fuck this up whatever you don't mess it up and i feel like that made me go um made me become a lot more reserved and a lot more observant of people and I became a little quieter and I wouldn't talk as much and I just paid attention to everything.

17:38But I think it allowed me to experience a difference in culture. I guess especially if you go out there on a scholarship as well, it's nothing like, you know, like, if you go out there and you've got rich parents that pay for it and you're like, do you know what I mean? No, no, no. Someone else's parents is paying for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So how was it playing basketball? because basketball is always, it's an American sport. So what was it like for you being a Brit playing basketball out there? Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. And I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products, you have to go to Sephora.

18:14I'm obsessed with the One Size Liquid Blotting Paper Spray. It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden plush pear smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. Like people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing, which you know I love. So if you want the makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with, shop only at Sephora. This episode is presented by Depop. We all have pieces in our closet that deserve a second life.

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19:31I mean, from a playing standpoint, the first thing they want to know is, OK, can you actually play? You know, because you're playing with guys from all over the states. They've grown up. Because there's people, I guess, getting scholarships just to go there and play basketball. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, but, you know, you're competing with guys who have been immersed in this culture from, from yay high from when they were a baby their their father might have played in college or he might have had a pro career um so it's something that is part of them and now you know in essence an outsider they're bringing an outsider over to take one of our spots it's like okay let's see what you're about you know when you always have to prove you know it's show and tell do now let's see what you're made of um on that standpoint but then off the court i think socially yeah it was it just opened a lot of doors opened a lot of doors i was able to you know mingle with people from different teams i could always fit into any circle because that helped being from the uk 100 you know because where you know unfortunately there's there's the the stereotypes you know the racial lines that that there are out there culturally when you're a brit you're different all of a sudden.

20:50So it's like, I don't know what they think, but you're different. So it gives you a way into a conversation always. And there's a reason for people to want to stay and interact with you, which I also found quite interesting. So it's all that expensive. When you was out there, were people ever kind of jealous of you because you're, like in terms of teammates out there, because you're from the UK? 100%. And I only ask because I've been out there and not so much, I've been to Alabama, but like, you know, I've done stand-up out there and I'm, you know, a green room for comics is like, hey, what's up?

21:27Especially if you've never met anyone before. It's supposed to be love, yeah. Hey, what's up? How you doing? Boom, boom, boom. First time I got there, 2019. What's going on, man? You're right. One guy. What's going on, man? What's up, man? Hey, you got an accent, huh? What? What? You know what? It was, you know. oh hell we go with that London shit again oh swear but it would always be said in light and in jest but you know when you would hear it over and over again you're like oh why do you keep saying that there's something behind that it's loaded it's loaded it's very loaded and to be fair there were moments where yeah I would be insecure about it because you know I just wanted to fit in.

22:17I wanted to fit in. I didn't want to mess up. I was in a new environment and I wanted the other guys on the team to fuck with me. I wanted them to like me. I wanted everyone to get along with me. I think it took time for me to understand. It's like, no, sometimes your differences are, you know, what you have to lean into. And it's like, you know, people will eventually come around and you will find out that those people that are poking fun at you a lot of the time, they really respect you or they secretly really admire you or they wish, you know, there's something about you that they find intriguing.

22:50But that's the only way they know how to express that. That's a really good way to look at it though because for some people it could be the, well, I'll close myself off or I will overcompensate. Do you know what I mean? Or change my accent and the way I dress and everything. So fast forward now to, you know, you've gone in the house, you've come out and you really made a conscious decision, it seemed, just from the outside to go back to basketball as well. What was the decision in that? It was always what I was planning to do. You know, I'd put so many years into building a career out of this thing.

23:30It was a space that, again, you know, I explained it, it gave me a lot of safety. And then the other side of it was what I realized the role you almost have to play as the black guy in media. And it's one of the elements that I think intrigues me about how you operate. Because you're in one of the few crafts where it's like, okay, I can touch on certain subjects, but I can do it in a way that gives me agency to not be a traitor to my people but i can still communicate things to people of various different backgrounds different topics um and i can touch on them in a way that okay we're all laughing at the end of the day yeah yeah you know because i i what i always rated is that when you came out one you you stuck to the thing that you loved which is basketball but you would also be very open in terms of talking about things like mental health and how you were feeling.

24:34And I think that was quite rare in terms of seeing someone come out from a situation which I feel like Love Island at the time you guys was in it was such a heightened experience. It was on Instagram, it was on Twitter, like the whole country would talk about it. It felt like it would, you know, come like, I think nine o 'clock when it comes on, it would stop. We teasers of like, this was what's coming up. And people, again, I'd be religiously tweeting with everyone else. And because people was like, rah, Mo watches this. And you know how it gets to it. Because they always be, hey, that the man don't really, we don't watch this.

25:10And I'm like, and it became this, that you man, you might want to watch this, you know, it's getting spicy, you know, but I feel like you, you was very open in talking about how you're, how you were feeling in your feelings. What was the, what was that? why did you kind of do that in a sense of you know was it a conscious decision was it because you wanted to be more connected with the people that you know had kind of been a fan of you do you know i mean i think it's just because it was um the a conscious effort just to show uh the my humanness you know the stuff that we all deal with no matter how lit you think someone's life is no matter how great it looks um and i'm sure you could attest to it as well it's like yeah you have shit days too you know you might smile and laugh when people run into you in a professional set but yeah you could have a madness going on in your life yeah that's the reality that's the human side of um of things and i think it's very important at a time where, you know, a lot of people are singing my praises for reasons that I don't always understand.

26:21It's like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Scrap that. I'm very human. You know what I mean? I'm very human. I have feelings, good days, bad days. I get overwhelmed. All of these elements that we all deal with. And I think that was why I kind of just wanted to try to explain. Did you ever get into the stuff of like, because I felt like that was a time where you could kind of come out of the villa. And for women, it was massively lucrative where, you know, you get a brand deal with, I think it might, I don't know, was it Boohoo was big at the time, Pretty Little Thing as well. But then I always noticed for men, it would be quite hard to try and get the lucrative contracts because I always feel like women buy into women.

27:04So if someone sees something called someone on Love Island and they're wearing the outfit, girls will be like I want to be like her and buy the outfit because I feel like guys are like but I ain't buying dungarees bro I ain't buying that nonsense of course why am I buying strappy dungarees bro so I feel like did you ever get like any of those lucrative things in terms of because some people do like nightclub appearances for example and I spoke to Kem and he was telling me like he was like yeah bro like nightclub I was doing like I was doing it for like two three months and when he was telling me what he was earning per show I was like oh, I get it.

27:40Not that I did it. For the walkthrough. But yeah, but you know... For the walkthrough. Because here, you know that in the UK, it's a thing, but not a thing, if that makes sense. Do you know what I mean? Did you ever have any of those? I've never done no nightclubs. Swear. No nightclubs. Because they seem so lucrative. When people's telling me what they earn, you turn up, you go on the mic, ollie, ollie, ollie. You know what I mean? And that's it. No. Okay. I've never done any nightclubs. um i still you know i made good money i still make good money um i think i was in a privileged position just because yeah it's a lot i really could do anything yeah yeah and then that's i think the moment that can become very dangerous when you have everything at your fingertips it's like because you can doesn't mean you should yeah yeah um and i think part of that was just coming from a sporting background where i was like yeah when we go to the nightclubs we go through the back door and there's no sparklers around and because it's a low key yeah yeah yeah and that's just the world I'd come from so it wasn't a thing all of a sudden of being so it didn't phase you in that aspect no no no oh that's good because I feel like I'll be honest bruv for me the minute I got a table I was like I felt like I bought land bruv I said no one can talk to me real estate bruv the minute we had that table bruv we're the real sparklers you know I'm not a party guy anyway.

29:03I'm not like a... I like to have fun with good people and, you know, enjoy moments. I love that, you know. But just to be out and then I've just never really... Yeah, yeah. Was it hard to date coming out the house? Because I felt like it must have been like all eyes on you and anyone you speak to, they would know you before you know them because they've seen you on the show. I was paro. I was so paro. I didn't date anyone for like a year after coming out of the house. Yeah, I was shook. Like coming out of the house, it was such an overwhelming experience. And it was like, okay, I don't know who these people expect me to be.

29:44It's that thing of people hearing a lot of people say negative things is the same as people almost worshipping you. like it's the same they're both wrong and they're both yeah not reality do you know what i mean but then i felt like i had been put on such a pedestal yeah it became very weird it's like now it felt like the reverse of how i just see things naturally um how i think things should naturally play out it's like you know you you want to pursue a woman that you're you're interested in to a certain extent but now everyone's chasing and clamoring over it's it became weird yeah i can't imagine what that's like because i feel like as soon as you come out you go back to normal life in a sense well i know even though your life isn't normal but you're like i want to be around my family and my friends but their world is changing as well as your world changing when someone starts getting them like oh do you think he will come here if he promotes this for me because then you're like you're like hey how do you do bro hey listen because i know those questions come oh yeah you just think just if mo could just do a little little 15 second it's like no no no man that's how it works that is some of the things that my friends have come to me and i feel so i feel i feel for them do you feel guilty do you feel guilty or was there a faith was there a phase when you felt guilty about saying no like oh no i think when everything first started happening especially with the social media stuff this is before any of the TV stuff came touring and putting the videos out a couple of cans and you go to a festival and you get to go for free and that was like what?

31:26I can bring five friends you go in through different entrances you get in that VIP section you know a little section in wireless and you're like no no there's a section no no that's what I'm saying when you're in that section you're like oh this is VIP and then someone says you want Nando's come through this back and you say what? what's this? three nandos that's the section and you sit there and someone will walk past and you're like hey that's that's my man that's everyone though that's everyone and then you're like oh okay cool and then someone will say hey come watch the show man from the side and I'm like from the side what like on the side of the stage yeah come man follow me man I ain't got the pass brother come man and you're like hey this is this is a level that I've never experienced but I think at the time it's like because someone might say like, yeah, come through here.

32:16I felt like now I'm obliged to say yes to everybody because look at that. Someone's just been kind enough to say, come and watch this show or come VIP. So when I'm out, I'm like, I want to go. I was saying to my wife, hey, man, let's go watch the show at the front because we can get a better view. My friends are, and I know my friends are like, no, but it's kind of lively here, isn't it? Like, let's not go out there, man. I'm like, no, I want to see. And it's until you get stopped and let me get a picture, let me get a video. I felt definitely obliged to be like I must give everyone this because if someone's giving me a free ticket to come here I must return it by giving everyone a video a picture and hey brother can you like let me FaceTime my mum still hey mum what I'm with mum ain't got a clue you know who's that young man I don't know this young man you know I'm like alright but at first now I deal with it in a way where I'm like look the only people I give my time to is my immediate family and my immediate friends other than that it's fair I'm so sorry man I'll probably be here next week if you want to get a picture or a selfie and I'll sign your thing but I have to go home because I have to give my time to the people that don't get to spend that time with me do you know what I mean and I think that was the hardest thing realising at first like feeling bad but you're like oh man I gave 20 people a picture about that last guy I'm so sorry man and I'll think about it You know, it'd be on my head.

33:42It'd be like, oh, that lost guy, man. I should have gave him a picture, man. But now I'm like, sorry, man. Sorry, cuz I, I gotta go home, man. You gotta change your nappies, bro. Do you think there's a part of it that, have you ever felt isolated? Have you ever felt isolated to, from, because of what you experience? You know, there's certain things that, if you were to speak to your, demand them about it, it's like, they wouldn't believe it. They wouldn't believe it. So it's like, you don't even want to bring certain things up because it can also come across as... There's certain things where it's just like, there's probably only like three people on the whole earth I could even speak to them about, bro.

34:21Like, there's three people on earth that I could speak to and it might be like, me, my mum, my girlfriend, probably my manager will only get the situation. Anyone else they'll be like, yeah, that's magic, you know, bro. But they really, like, it's not connecting, it don't make sense. It doesn't click. But also, it's also understanding that like, it's like, these problems in my head are so much bigger than I think they are. But you speak to your friends and they can also be the people that can bring reason and be like, yeah, but bro, like, if you can't go, just say you can't go. You can't go. And I'm sitting there like, no, but that means that, you know, we've got to do the thing and finish the thing.

35:02That, brother, like, tomorrow's another day, you know? What are you going to do? What? Just, you can't make it. You can't make it. And it's those things where you sit there and you rack your brain and you're like, oh, but I've got to do this and you're like, bro, you just need to have a day off. I think that person would understand if you took a day off because you'll be better. And it's those people that can also bring reason to your life that you sit and you go, oh, all right, I get it. But there are also times where like, no one would ever understand this. If I dissected this email of this, it's the man that's crazy, you know?

35:37uh-uh. You're right, bro. So what, you think Arsenal going to win it this year, yeah? Yes, I do. He's got to change the conversation. But also, I think it's like, I think that's the beauty of having, like, your day one friends and your family around you that they can, sometimes you do need people to say that. I can't help you with that, you know, bro. This is you, you know, what am I going to say to that? Yeah, bruv, invest, bro. yeah you should invest bro I don't know if I can bro I might lose all my money you know he's in it bro you get me brother demanding my ear innit yeah it's alright you know so like I remember when you came out you kind of had like a bit of a was it like a documentary yeah yeah it had like your dad in it and your family and all this stuff what was life like like a year after coming out because you know you start going on shows like Bake Off and stuff like this was it definitely like a lane that you wanted to like pursue with more TV work because yeah you get your brand stuff but like I feel like TV work can open you up to a place of like ooh this is I'm now being on you know Bake Off as me do you know what I mean I'm not selling anything for anyone I'm just part of a show with an assembled cast do you know what I mean um yeah Bake Off was dope Louis Theroux he was on that the one that I went yeah yeah solid

37:07I always just wanted to be conscious about doing things that I really wanted to do and didn't feel like I was morphing into someone else that I wouldn't recognise or my loved ones didn't recognise so I turned down most things just because if it doesn't agree with me I just won't do it Was there anything you turned down and you look back now and you're like, you know what? Maybe, maybe I might have done that one. Let me see. Oh, what's the name of the, oh, this is bad. I should know the name of Rip. The last thing that Ratman done. Supercell? Yeah. Is it? No, no, no. Don't do that. Don't do that.

37:57But it was, you know what it was? And I'm still, till today, super grateful for that opportunity um but it was it was a situation where i had asked i was just like you know i was big on not necessarily putting myself out there in terms of something that had violence and stuff around it because for an image that i i tried to show to younger people you know to try and be a different kind a voice to younger people I feel like I would be violating if I then went and you know done a TV show or something that you know celebrated or glorified a certain lifestyle that is an issue on one hand but yeah I just wouldn't want to eat from that that cake and then you know he was like yeah no no no it's calm bro the first scene I read it's like yeah someone got nanked I'm like oh lord I was like yeah I can't even do it you know because for me I was like nah that would be me going against what I've said to myself you know what I said I was stamped on yeah so you know that's one I'll always be grateful for it but yeah that was one of the ones so like in terms of image you speak of image you also like transition yourself into like modelling and you know working with high profile brands like Like, do you know what I mean?

39:29No offense to the boo-hoos and stuff out there, but, you know, seeing you work with people like, you know, Christine Louboutin and stuff like that. How has that kind of started to change your life? Because, you know, I feel like we're talking like... Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. And I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products, you have to go to Sephora. I'm obsessed with the One Size Liquid Blotting Paper Spray. It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point.

40:08Oh, and the Kay Alley Eden Plush Pear smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. Like, people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing, which you know I love. So if you want the makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with, shop only at Sephora. Here's a tip for you. There's a podcast out there with fans waiting to be your next customer. They tune in every week. They trust the host. And that host wants to talk about brands like yours in their own words to their audience. The problem is you just haven't been introduced yet. We're Acast, where that introduction happens.

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41:092019 is when you was in love. Yeah. And where you are now to be working with some of the biggest brands in the world or, you know, ambassador for like ASOS and stuff like this. it puts you in such a stratosphere now that it's like oh like i just know this guy as you know someone who plays basketball and is an athlete also i know him as a model do you know what i mean um how has that world been to you fashion is something that i i enjoy i like it i feel like clothing is this expression isn't it there's an art to it yeah yeah yeah but you're very fashionable bruv yeah i like to see the green on green bruv with a hat bruv i tried to wear one of these hats the other day, bruv.

41:49All my boys were like, I didn't wear that hat, you know. I love you. My friend said, so what? What are you saying, bruv? I questioned myself for wearing this hat. You're a Black Panther today, yeah? I see, I knew it. No, no, but yours is good. Because your thing is backwards. You've got the earring. It's like, it's giving MJ vibes. Yeah, all right. But when I do it, my friends are like, bruv, this ain't the look, you know. You talk about your mole. Of course you can do it, bruv. No. So, one thing that don't work with me is hats. I think I've got a cap and in a bucket hat. Any hat I'd try, even my girlfriend, she'd be like, nah, this ain't the one, you know.

42:22That's not the one. Because I see you wearing like the berets and stuff as well, bruv. Yeah, man. I tried to wear this, bruv. My friends were like, hey, bonjour. We best. I said, it's all about the right function. There's a time for all of it. So like, how big is fashion for you? Is it like another like string to your bow in a sense of like, you know, there's one thing being like an athlete and being able to play the sport you love. There's another thing to be able to be like a face on TV. But, you know, I think sometimes people think fashion is just, you sit there and take pictures. Do you know what I mean?

42:54When it's a lot more that goes into it. But also, I guess it's something that can, yeah, you know, you work with brands like, you know, YSL, Christian Louboutin, Hugo Boss. You said you have a passion for fashion, but is it something that you still want to pursue in some ways? Maybe have your own clothing line or anything like this? I make my own clothes. I've made my own clothes. We're making my own clothes for a little while now. Wait, wait, wait. When you say make your own clothes, what do you mean? I don't stitch it. I don't stitch it. No, no, no. I design them. Really? Yeah, yeah. Say swear.

43:25Yeah, yeah. A lot of like the jackets. Yeah, and then trousers. Made these, but these were just like a last minute. Kind of. Oh, don't do that, man. It was a last minute one. Don't do that, man. Look, put it this way. You see these? Yeah, I made these last minute. Nah, these got made for New Year's and the idea came into my head at 10 a.m. the morning of New Year's Eve. You feel me? Really? It would really last me. So hold on, wait. So you do the sketches and stuff? I'll sketch it. I'll sketch it up. And then I'll try and draw from, have reference points for the seamstress. And then I'll take it to her.

44:02And then, yeah, I'll sit there. I'll help her cut out some of the patterns. Swear. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you tell fashion brands that you do this? No. Brother, whoa, bro. Like, do you know how mad that is, bro? the fact that you're sitting there sketching your own clothes that you want to wear you know what it's very difficult for people to see you as something else without showing you have to show and prove before someone can see you in a certain light you know when you're talking about the the the elka fashion brands that yeah yeah yeah I I think I naturally gravitate towards it's like yeah you don't just tell them you sketch stuff you gotta show them some bad shit why don't you show them the trousers bro I've got stuff I've got stuff on the way I've got stuff on the way That's big you know It's all I think Developing conversations It's all developing conversations But I just think Yeah show and proof You know like What we were touching on When I first got here Like When you were saying There's things that You're working on But it's not quite It's not quite there It's not quite there yet Of course You know And understanding that But that's because You understand craftsmanship Yeah yeah yeah You understand when Something's ready to hit the stage and you understand when...

45:16But that's a different passion for fashion. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Because a lot of us like, you know, wear nice clothes and outfits, but to sit there in sketches and then to have the idea for the cloth and the cut, it's like, yeah, like that in itself is something that is like, it separates the, I'll write a outfit bangs to like, oh my God, wait, where do you get those from? Do you know what I mean? Where are those from? That's when I knew, okay, now I've got some cold shit. the first time I was out in Vegas with my missus at the time and we're walking through one of the malls where they got like I don't know is it the Caesars Palace where they got oh yeah yeah yeah yeah so walking through there I'm like four people like yo where you get those trousers from I love your pants oh my god your pants are great yeah and then I'm just there like raw I'm just design and stuff that I like and part of it is just necessity.

46:15Because I'm tall, it's very difficult to find. Because I was going to ask you that. Because being tall, you have to, you can't just go and grab the regular jeans on. They got some deg-e-deg-e stuff in the tall and, the big and tall section. Do you know what I mean? And in my head, I'm like, nah, we're better than that. What are you talking about? What do you mean big and tall section? Do you know what I mean? So, in my head, I'm like, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. You lot just use all the extra cloth to make our stuff. That's why I'm like, no, let me design stuff that is made to the contour of the taller body.

46:50Do you know what I mean? And I think the possibilities are endless because you can do different things with the fabric because of the proportions you're now working with. The clothes will automatically look different because you're working with a different shaped body. and there's just something about when something's made for you. You know them custom suits. I've seen where you go on several. When you put on one of those suits, it's a different cup. It's like, you know when there's a way the jacket hits the shoulder and you go, you know that sometimes you're doing this. Bro, bro, bro. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

47:30You're like, oh, bro, I ain't got tuck in the shirt a bit. Nah, nah, nah. Yeah, it fits totally different, man. It's different. And, you know, that is just, that's why I kind of so started going down the rabbit hole of making my own stuff especially I guess for like because one you're tall but you know when I think of like basketball players basketball players are also really fashionable like it's become a thing within the NBA like the walk itself do you know what I mean I guess there was a time with Allen Iverson he changed the game I went to his high school oh really yeah that's why I went in Virginia oh okay I went to his high school they got his jersey up on the wall his pictures and stuff yeah man that's my favourite of all time for me bro well I'm on one of the documentaries what's it called one of the documentaries they've done about when he sort of he got arrested his senior year of school and there was a brawl oh yeah yeah yeah but that was on Netflix at one point it was on Netflix yeah yeah you're in it I swear you see me it was when I was in school in the States you just see my face in the background I swear they come talk to the team the current team yeah yeah yeah about what we knew about Iverson you'll see me okay it's mad who's your guy when it comes to basketball like yo the guy for me I love Tracy McGrady he was he was one of my favourites I think the greatest of all times MJ and then Carmelo Anthony was another one I respect Carmelo as a player I respect him as a person what he's sort of been able to do off the court yeah real one did you go to the game recently yeah I was the London yeah yeah yeah the Grizzlies doo-doo game man blow out doo-doo game I had to leave beginning of the 4th because you you play basketball you've done a lot of work with like the London Lions as well right so do you get a level of access now when these things come over or you go over there that's just like well yeah you know I get to sit courtside or do you know what I mean I get to interview and chat with the players and I know some of them yeah I mean I would imagine it's the same in the comedic world.

49:37It's just like... Nah, bruv. No? Listen, I met Dave Chappelle once or twice, you know, bruv. Swear, bruv. What are you saying? You met like that. Nah, but it was like brief. Do you know how? It was brief. Look how you even said it. I've only met him once or twice. Look how you even said it. You didn't even know that you'd done that. No, but like, it's brief. Like, I mean, like, when he does shows here, he doesn't like call me. Bro, that's Chappelle, you know? I know, but he don't call me. Same with Kevin Hart. I met him once, but it's pretty, it was like... you're doing some heavy names of him no but that's it Eddie Murphy Eddie Murphy no I know not yet that's my girlfriend but like soon come I've not met Gervais I'm not a wrecking Gervais yeah but you're talking about like that's okay I ain't met but I don't get it's like if they you know what it is if they've got a show they wouldn't call me and say oh Mo come down I've got a show or Red Teh Teh like the comment it's weird but you will have access to the show if you want access to the show no there's no two ways about it it's like that some kind of weird I can I'm able to go to the show yeah but only because I do shows with Live Nation and I might know the same promoter that does Ricky's show Ricky Gervais or maybe Mickey Flanagan or like Dave Chappelle but that's the only reason why I'm not backstage AAA pass why are you trying to make out like you got the struggle pass no no no I swear why are you making out like you got the struggle but I gotta beg people do you know what though I would say I probably have more access within music than I have of stand-up.

51:10So like, because I know more musicians and I'm like, oh, I'd love to come to the show. And I would say, look, I'm happy to buy tickets. But is it all right? And they'd be like, yeah, cool, cool, cool. Do you mind if I, am I able to drive? Yeah, we'll look after you, man. Boom, boom, boom. Because the musicians will do the same thing. They'll be like, I know, can I come out? And be like, yeah, I'll look after you, man. Like come with your missus or whatever, get a parking space and whatnot. but comedy is weird because like like comedians our world is so small and we all do know each other but then I don't know whether it's a competitiveness or what where but then again it's like we don't owe each other anything though do you know what I mean I guess it might be different within sport because you're like oh raw like when I go to London man I need to shout my guy Ovi he will show me where to go yeah we were out ringing in the states you know hey model ways I'm here in LA I just assume yeah no from my experience I've not found that I don't know if that's a comedy thing though I'm not too sure but it's weird like when you are around with comics in a green room it's a vibe it's love yeah I can't always use the experience of when I went to the States but you know in the UK when everyone's there and everyone's busting joke it does feel like oh right everyone knows each other but it's not like an open I've found anyway an open community of like the biggest comedian in India.

52:34And it's like, ah, like Mo's from Thing. And I've seen him on Netflix and we reach out. Like, hey, what's up, man? Do you know where I could go to eat? Or do you know where I can? And I get some comments that do reach out, but I wouldn't say it's an open community. No, no, no. Okay, no, I was surprised. Is it like that in basketball? Yeah, basketball, I would say it's a pretty tight knit community. And there's a respect for the craft, you know. everyone knows who the big dogs are but it's just you know everyone respects just what it takes yeah everyone kind of knows what we've all had to kind of go through to to do well or to make a space for ourselves yeah in the sports world so yeah it's typically love it's love and like you I feel like you've really put like London Lions on the map a lot in terms of being someone that is you know transcended on television to then carried on doing the sport that you love because was it 22 23 um you was the captain right yeah yeah did you find more people coming to watch basketball because you was playing basketball and they'd seen you from the tv does that make sense i think i'd seen yeah i i just started to see more not right just around the game around around the sport i think um and it was something that i just kind of tried to take a step back and look and see where i could use um this new thing that i guess it feels more gifted than anything because it there's it's not a skill to do reality tv yeah how can this impact where i have um taken the time to learn the craft and I've done the groundwork and I've studied for the tests and okay, I have expertise here.

54:21How can I help that impact this side of things and hopefully leave a legacy of, you know, just making it more visible for kids, making it more visible for the next, I don't know, you know, Victor Wembenyama or whatever, hopefully to come from the UK. where do you think we are at the moment with basketball in this country your tone of voice let me know exactly where we are your tone of voice let me know exactly where you said um so your tone of voice told me everything I need to know but you know what that's fine we've got a long way to go do you know why I say it right because I saw you caught side at the Lakers game, so I know what you've seen.

55:13I know what you've seen. Come on, tell me a lie. I saw you caught side at the Lakers game. We're not there. However, however, however, you know, what we do have on our side, what we do have on our side is the magical P word. We've got potential through the roof. Do you know what I mean? um a lot of raw talent and i think where we are is just a place where we we need to build out an infrastructure um it's the second most played sports in all of the urban cities around london i mean not around london around the uk sorry um so for it to have such high numbers of participation but not have the infrastructure for these kids to get better i feel like we're doing ourselves a disservice and we're doing a disservice to our young people.

56:08Yeah. Because I used to see these guys on social media and they would go around different courts. SPB. Yeah. Yeah. I used to love watching them. I would always see them pop up on my on my like For You page but I'd see them look at different courts and you sit there. Swipe past that, isn't it? No, no, no. But you know, I'd always watch it but I'd be like bro like like because it's weird where I think for when you I grew up playing football so weirdly if there's a park two jumpers that's a football pitch whereas basketball you need you need a court but seeing the neglected courts where they're like and you sit there you're like I ain't right that was a basketball court they don't even bother putting pavement on some of the basketball court grass and stuff like this yeah yeah yeah you've got all those dual use courts where they've got football goals underneath the basketball hoops it's like man you've got to nurture you know you've got to nurture this thing and I don't get it because there's a lot of money that can be made from marketing and, you know, just the growth of basketball globally is insane.

57:12And you see it happening everywhere else around Europe. We're the only ones. Because there is a really nice court in, is it in Kennetton? The Nike one. Used to be in a school, Lillian Bailey's. Oh. And it's like... I'm a little bit removed from playing outside now. No, no, it's inside. It's inside. Oh, yeah? Is it inside basketball? Is it a black? Has it got a black? Yes. Okay, I know what you're talking about. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a regal. That's it, right. Yeah, yeah. But that one, I remember going there when they first built it. And I was like, why isn't this used? I don't know if it's used.

57:45It probably is used enough. But if I had not seen it, I would not believe this. You wouldn't know. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? But within the basketball community, we all know. We all know where, because there's only a few places like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. but obviously that just causes an issue because it's like, okay, there's not enough of that, you know, with our, with the weather in the UK, it's not a country that you can play outside all year round. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, so like now where you are in your life, what are the things that brings you joy away from anything that's on the camera?

58:19Because I know that your sport, you like playing brings you a lot of joy, but, and, you know, surprise, even, you know, you telling me that you sketch your own, you know, your own drawings in terms of creating your own clothes and stuff like this. But what's the thing that brings you a lot more joy in life now? Spending time with my family, my missus. Taking it easy, trying to understand what things really matter as soon as possible. Of course. You know, that seems to be a thing that always happens when you get into your late 60s, 70s, all of a sudden, you know, old people are like, oh, I wish I would have known what mattered sooner.

59:04I want to find out those things as soon as possible and spend as much time doing those things and investing time and energy into those things. I think reading, enjoying, learning, one, helping me learn more about myself, just becoming more informed of the world, not through he say, she say, or through some stupid reels or some shit like that, but actually going and diving into stuff and just learning about the world, man. You know, those kinds of things give me joy now. And you spoke recently about, you know, you turned down something from Ratman, like Supercell because of how it felt for you in terms of your morals, which I massively respect because I guess sometimes when you can have these morals, you'd be like, I put it aside for this one.

59:58Do you know what I mean? And it takes a lot of people to even admit and say, yeah, it didn't align with what I aligned with. I love the project, but I can't put myself into a project that I don't morally see myself in. It's not that I think this is wrong. It's not demonising it. Yeah, it's not demonising it in any way. It's just, yeah. And like, you know, I feel like you're able to put yourself in places where you want to be and not someone wants you to be, to make them money or fame or whatever it is. You know, you're also an ambassador with the Prince's Trust as well. What's your role like in that?

1:00:36How do you find that experience? I think that's really cool. You know, it's just a full circle moment. I feel like anything where you can give back to kids, give back to underprivileged, help create opportunities through one way or another those things i feel like are full circle moments because you know um growing up in basketball someone had to open certain doors for me or give me certain opportunities or take a bet on me at some stage of my journey you know it's happened and for all of us i'm sure there's been those um catalyst moments that we can all say oh nah, you know what, if this hadn't happened, I don't know if it would have patterned up like it has.

1:01:19You know, when you're in position now to kind of do for others as people have done for you. Yeah, it's a duty, isn't it? And before you go, what would you say to a younger self that's in like, you know, scholarship in America and there's only three seconds left to play and you're going to speak to a younger Ovi that has to take a game-winning shot. What do you say to that younger person now, having lived through that experience, where I guess at that point it's like it's all or nothing? What would you say to that younger Ovi? Making it or missing it means nothing because the journey that is taking you to get here is all the value you needed from this whole experience that was poetic bro I don't know I don't know about that but I just yeah man the maker of me saying it honestly it's such a pleasure to have you on the pod I've been trying to get you on for ages man you are genuinely like one of my favourite people in a sense of like seeing your trajectory from even from the outside has been so inspiring you know like it's like I was saying with a documentary with your dad and your friends and like, it's weird where I can see a reflection in myself in a way where you're like, I remember that doc, I think was it on ITV2?

1:02:45No, no, no. That was, what was it? Was it? Was it BBC? I don't know. It was either ITV2 or BBC. Because this one was when you kind of, kind of recently came out of the house. Yeah, it was what I don't know. I think that was the one where like, it was nice to see how close you were like with your friends and like, your dad. And I was just like, oh, right. like this i relate to this guy so much because he's just living he's living in the moment but also having those people around people don't realize how beneficial they are when everything's going on and to have your friend be like i hurry up man why you been you're like oh you need that you know i mean so um honestly it's so it's such a pleasure to have you on the pod bro and i'm so excited to just see the things that you do and i'm ready for the clothing line in it you know i I mean, if there's any free hats and trousers, I'm hearing it.

1:03:38Yes, yes, yes. Thanks for having me, man. Thanks for having me. No, I appreciate it over you, my friend. Yeah, big, big fun, man. And this has been your beginning, mid and end. Thank you so much, brother. Appreciate you, man. Appreciate you, man. Hey, what's up? Thank you so much for listening to the podcast today. Now, a lot goes into making each episode. I know you hear my voice, but there's a team behind the scenes who helped make it. And if you did enjoy it, I'd really, really appreciate if you could show the love to them by giving us five stars. And if you also have the time, please leave us a review.

1:04:08It's always appreciated and we love reading the comments. And of course, we want to keep making it better. Thank you for listening and have a great day. Peace. Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. And I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products, you have to go to Sephora. I'm obsessed with the one size liquid blotting paper spray. It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden Plush Pear smells so good.

1:04:43It's sweet, warm, and addictive. Like people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing, which you know I love. So if you want the makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with, shop only at Sephora.