Internet personality Adwoa Pretty has claimed that the widely publicized $10,000 she presented to her former close friend, Abena Payola, during the grand opening of her wig shop in September 2025 was not a genuine gift but a planned publicity stunt designed to generate buzz on social media.

Speaking on The Delay Show, Adwoa Pretty said she and Abena Payola had agreed beforehand to stage the presentation to attract online attention, insisting that she collected the money back after the cameras stopped rolling.

"The $10,000 I gifted her was just settings to trend on social media. We planned it, and I took my money back off camera," she stated.

The cash presentation took place during the official opening of Abena Payola's wig shop on September 21, 2025, with videos of the gesture circulating widely on social media and drawing admiration from many users at the time.

Adwoa Pretty's latest claim comes amid the well-publicized fallout between the once inseparable friends, whose relationship has deteriorated in recent months.

While discussing the breakdown of their friendship, she denied allegations that she had spoken negatively about Abena Payola behind her back.

"I never badmouthed her nor revealed her stuff to others. I say this without mincing words. I swear to God that I never badmouthed her. Our fallout was just a misunderstanding we could have solved, but whatever happened, happened," she said.

Her comments add a new dimension to the ongoing public dispute between the two social media personalities, particularly surrounding one of the most talked-about moments from their friendship.