A 27-year-old man in the United States has allegedly beaten his own mother with a baseball bat simply because she did not cook food for him — and Nigerians on the internet cannot keep calm.
The story coming out of Memphis, Tennessee in the United States is the kind that makes you want to sit down and ask yourself serious questions about the world we are living in today.
A young man by the name of Deangelo Billingsley, aged 27 years old, allegedly picked up a baseball bat and descended on his own mother — the woman who carried him for nine months — all because she did not cook food for him.
Read that again. He beat his mother because food was not ready.
What Happened Exactly?
According to reports, Billingsley was at home with his mother when an argument broke out between the two of them. The bone of contention? The woman had not prepared a meal for her grown, able-bodied, 27-year-old son. Instead of acting like the adult man he is, Billingsley allegedly grabbed a baseball bat and used it to assault his mother.
The matter was reported to the police and he was subsequently arrested and charged.
Nigerians React: “This One Cannot Happen Here”
Now, many Nigerians reading this will immediately say, “This kind of thing cannot happen in Nigeria.” And while we would love to agree, domestic violence against parents — particularly mothers — is a conversation we must also have closer to home.
However, what makes this particular story jaw-dropping is the reason* behind it. A fully grown man. Twenty-seven years old. Beating his mother over *food.
In many Nigerian homes, a mother cooking for her children is an act of love that most of us cherish deeply. Our mothers wake up before the whole house, pound, stir, and season — not because they are servants, but because of love. The idea of raising your hand against that same woman because eba* or *jollof rice was not ready is simply incomprehensible.
The Bigger Conversation — Entitlement and Respect for Parents
This story opens up a deeper conversation that is relevant even in Nigeria. Many young men today, whether abroad or at home, carry a dangerous sense of entitlement — the belief that the world, and especially their mothers, owe them something.
As Nigerians, we are raised with a deep reverence for our parents. The Yoruba say, “Ìwà ọmọ l’ẹ̀kọ ìyá” — a child’s character is a reflection of the mother’s teaching. The Igbo remind us that to disrespect your mother is to invite a curse upon your own destiny. And across every Nigerian culture, from the North to the South, honouring your parents is non-negotiable.
A 27-year-old man who cannot cook for himself has bigger problems than hunger. He has a character problem.
Final Thoughts
Deangelo Billingsley now faces the legal consequences of his actions, as he should. But beyond the arrest and the charges, this story should serve as a reminder to all of us — our mothers are not our servants, they are our greatest blessings.
If you are old enough to commit violence, you are certainly old enough to enter that kitchen and cook your own food.
Share this story and let us know your thoughts in the comments — what do you think should happen to someone who raises their hand against their own mother?
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