Who really did it first? Nigerian digital star Nons Miraj is stepping into the spotlight with claims that the wildly popular dating series Arlette Amuli Pop The Balloon did not originate in the United States. According to the comedian and media personality, the concept was born on Nigerian soil long before it became a viral Black dating phenomenon on YouTube.
Nons Miraj, whose real name is Chinonso Ukah, made the revelation during a recent appearance on the TeaWithTay podcast. While reflecting on her rise to fame and her ventures in entertainment, she alleged that the format behind Pop The Balloon mirrors her earlier work on The Hunt Game Show, a dating series she says she launched first.
“I started the pop the balloon game show before the lady in the U.S. copied from me and made it popular,” Nons Miraj said. Her tone was calm, but the claim was clear. She explained that her biggest misstep was not protecting the name early on. “That was because I didn’t trademark the name ‘Pop the Balloon.’”
According to her account, the failure to lock down the title changed everything. She says that once the concept gained traction in the U.S., Arlette Amuli trademarked the name, which ultimately positioned her as the official owner of the format in the eyes of major players.
“So when Netflix wanted to do it, they had to contact her,” Nons Miraj added, noting that she instead secured the trademark for The Hunt Game Show.
She also recalled seeing early comments under the U.S.-based show that echoed her claims. Viewers, she said, were already drawing comparisons, with some insisting the concept looked familiar. “People were saying this is Nons Miraj’s show in the comment section. She copied. It is what it is.”
On the other side of the conversation is Pop The Balloon or Find Love, the weekly hour-long Black dating show that has become a staple of YouTube culture. Created by Arlette Amuli, an African American woman of Congolese descent, and her husband, Bolia “BM” Matundu, the show blends humor, romance, and raw dating dynamics in a way that has captivated millions. Matundu, who previously worked as a UK rapper and Ndombolo musician, helped shape the show’s distinctive tone and global appeal.
For many viewers, the debate centered on how African creators can be overshadowed when similar ideas are repackaged for Western audiences on larger platforms.
Neither side has suggested legal action. For now, the story lives in interviews, comment sections, and ongoing conversations about intellectual property in the digital age.
