A talk show guest is earning massive praise online after standing her ground and demanding respect for her name. Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, a lawyer and activist, appeared on Jeremy Vine Extra and turned a routine introduction into a powerful moment about respect and effort.
The show’s presenter, Dawn Neesom, stumbled over Mos-Shogbamimu’s name and quickly asked for help. “How do you pronounce your name, Shola?” she asked with a nervous laugh.
But Dr. Shola wasn’t here for shortcuts. “Read it, my dear,” she replied firmly, setting the tone for what would become a viral exchange.
Despite a few attempts, Neesom struggled to say the name correctly. Dr. Shola didn’t hold back. “This is terrible, especially for presenting,” she pointed out, before reminding the host that her surname is perfectly readable phonetically.
Neesom eventually tried again but gave up with an awkward laugh. “Shola, welcome to the show!” she exclaimed, hoping to move on.
But Dr. Shola wasn’t letting it slide. “No, no,” she said with unshakable confidence. “You will say my name. Now read it phonetically.”
This empowering moment was captured on video and shared on Twitter, where it racked up over 6.6 million views. The caption read, “Auntie Shola said we’re not moving on until you pronounce my name right,” and the internet went wild.
Support flooded in for Dr. Shola. “Fair play to @SholaMos1 for insisting she at least try and pronounce it correctly,” one commenter wrote. Others reflected on their own experiences, with one saying, “The disrespect was real in school. They’d make up names for you because they couldn’t pronounce your last name.”
😂
— Dawn Neesom (@DawnNeesom) May 10, 2023
Author Bolu Babalola weighed in, pointing out that this type of issue should be resolved behind the scenes. “As a professional, this is the sort of thing you establish before the show if you have any respect for your guests,” she said. Neesom, perhaps a bit embarrassed, responded with humor: “I couldn’t pronounce my own name this morning!”
For Dr. Shola, this isn’t a one-time thing. She’s had to school talk show hosts before. In January, during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, presenter Kate Garraway stumbled over Mos-Shogbamimu’s name and tried to skip over it.
I couldn't pronounce my own name this morning! 😂
— Dawn Neesom (@DawnNeesom) May 10, 2023
Dr. Shola wasn’t having it. “I’m not going to let you get away with that. Read it phonetically, pronounce it as you see it,” she said, encouraging Garraway to keep trying. When the presenter finally got it right, Dr. Shola applauded her and joked about her own struggle to say common names like “Smith.”
It’s clear that Dr. Shola’s insistence isn’t just about her name—it’s about respect, effort, and the importance of getting it right. Her message is simple: names matter, and so does the effort to say them correctly.
What do you think about Dr. Shola’s bold stand? Would you have done the same? Share your thoughts—and your own stories about name struggles!
