Adekunle Gold reveals why checking Simi's genotype was one of the first things he did before pursuing a relationship with her. Adekunle Gold says
Adekunle Gold reveals why checking Simi’s genotype was one of the first things he did before pursuing a relationship with her.
- Adekunle Gold says knowing whether his and Simi’s genotypes were compatible was a non-negotiable before their relationship began.
- The singer said he would not have pursued the relationship if they had been incompatible, citing concern for future children.
- Adekunle Gold, who has lived with sickle cell disease, also spoke about the need for more awareness around genotype compatibility.
Singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that genotype compatibility was one of the first things he established before pursuing a relationship with his wife, singer Simi, saying he would not have proceeded had they not been compatible.
Speaking on the One54 Africa podcast, the singer said the decision was non-negotiable for him, framing it not as a romantic consideration but as a responsibility toward any child that might come from the relationship.
“There’s no way I would have done that. When we met, the first thing we did, I had to know her genotype or that we match. If we did not… so she’s AA,” he said.
He went further, making a broader argument about sickle cell disease and the choices people make when they know their genotype status.
“There’s so much awareness that needs to be done, you know, tell people that if you have sickle cell, forget love, you can’t do it. It makes no sense, because you’re about to bring a child to the world and the child is about to be sickly. What’s the point?” he said.
Adekunle Gold also said he would not have married Simi had she carried an incompatible genotype, describing the position as one rooted in concern for the wellbeing of future children rather than a lack of feeling.