Shaffy Bello Reveals What She Does When Children Call Her By Name

The veteran actress revealed that she is uncomfortable when younger people call her by her first name, insisting that elders deserve to be addressed with appropriate titles.

Speaking during a recent podcast, Bello said she sometimes corrects younger people who address her as “Shaffy,” stressing that age and respect should be taken into consideration.

She said, “When a child calls me by my name, Shaffy, I pull them closer and tell them, ‘You haven’t earned the right, and you never will.’”

The actress explained that the situation becomes even more uncomfortable for her when the person addressing her is around the same age as her own children.

She added, “I have a child as old as you are, and even if I do not have children, you have not earned the right, and you will never earn the right at your age to call me by name.”

Bello questioned the declining use of respectful titles among younger people, asking, “Whatever happened to Ma’am?”

She also expressed her dislike for the casual greeting “Hi,” saying, “There is even something about this ‘Hi’; I can’t stand it.”

The actress attributed differences in how younger people address their elders to upbringing and cultural practices, noting that expectations vary across different parts of Nigeria and in the United States.

According to Bello, respect for older people is still upheld in some American settings, particularly when children interact with elders.

She said, “Even children in the U.S. call me ‘Ma,’” reaffirming her belief that younger people should show respect when addressing their elders.