Popular social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) has reacted strongly to claims that someone else has trademarked the name “Ratel,” making it clear that, according to him, no paperwork can take away authenticity.
Speaking during a viral livestream, VDM dismissed the trademark controversy with a bold declaration that immediately caught public attention.
“Being the Ratel goes beyond trademark, son. There can only be one Ratel. It’s only the person with the real Ratel that can be the Ratel. There’s only one Ratel.”
To drive his point home, VDM hilariously interacted with a real honey badger (ratel) during the live session, using the animal as a metaphor to underline his belief that identity is about originality and spirit, not registration documents.
VDM Fires Back at Trademark Claims
The outspoken influencer made it clear that the current debate around trademarking “Ratel” misses the bigger picture. According to him, some identities cannot be commercialised or owned on paper, because their value comes from who truly embodies them.
His comments come amid growing conversations online about:
- Personal brands being trademarked
- Cultural identities being commercialised
- Who truly “owns” a name, movement, or persona
VDM’s stance was simple: authenticity beats legality when it comes to real influence.
Fans React: Applause, Criticism & Mockery
As expected, Nigerians wasted no time reacting, with opinions sharply divided.
Some applauded VDM’s message about originality, while others felt he was being unrealistic in a world governed by intellectual property laws.
Mixed reactions online included:
- @Iam_jahbwaii:
“You loose guard just admit cos this is one of the biggest mistake you’ve made in your life VDM.” - @KairoWeb3:
“Maybe being the ratel is more about spirit than exclusivity, but I get the vibe you’re emphasizing uniqueness.” - @PlugAutos:
“If no be joblessness wey dey this country wetin be all dis nonsense now.” - @awoyemijohn:
“Lowkey, Blord is already getting free PR from VDM for the app.” - @witfortuneos:
“I honestly thought Ratel has been registered by VDM.”
Entertainment or Serious Brand Battle?
While some viewers saw the livestream as pure entertainment, others believe the issue could evolve into a serious brand and ownership dispute, especially as “Ratel” continues to gain commercial and cultural relevance online.
For now, one thing is clear:
VeryDarkMan is not backing down.
Whether trademarked or not, he insists that the real Ratel cannot be duplicated — and social media is watching closely to see how the story unfolds.
📹 Watch the viral video below and decide for yourself.
“Being the ratel goes beyond trademark son, there can only be one ratel” -VeryDarkMan responds as he plays with the real ratel animal 🦔 🙆🏼♂️ https://t.co/sSpeqspN5D pic.twitter.com/NQYA60DJzN
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) January 18, 2026
