The 2025 Soca Monarch competition has ended in controversy, with many Vincentians taking to social media questioning the legitimacy of the winning performance by two of the genre’s most iconic names — Delroy “Fireman” Hooper and Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle.
Fireman, the defending Soca Monarch and 15-time champion, surprised many when he announced—during a live interview on Hot 97—that he had invited Skinny Fabulous to join him on stage to “defend the crown.” According to Fireman, the decision was rooted in mutual respect and a desire to uplift the culture. Skinny Fabulous accepted, saying he was doing it for the love of the artform and out of respect for Fireman’s legendary status.
The duo went on to win the competition with their high-energy track “Erupt,” but questions quickly erupted after the show.
In a post-show interview with One News SVG, Skinny Fabulous admitted he had written the song and there was an SOS for Fireman on the track he accepted and then he invited me to perform with him and out of love for the culture ,i accepted
Critics have raised concerns about how a title won solo in 2024 could be defended by a duo in 2025, especially when Fireman — the official defending monarch — did not join the stage until nearly a minute into the performance. Skinny Fabulous visibly carried the performance, leading many to argue that the integrity of the title defense was compromised, if not technically, then ethically.
Key Questions Arising:
Who truly defended the crown? Was it Fireman as the defending Monarch, or Skinny Fabulous who led the performance and co-created the winning song?
What are the rules? Is there a precedent or regulation that governs if and how a defending champion can team up to defend a solo title?
Next year’s defense: Will the duo return as a team in 2026? If not, who gets the automatic qualification — Fireman, Skinny, or both?
What if they split? If only one of them decides to enter next year, does that individual carry the title?
While there may be no specific rule prohibiting a joint defense of a title won solo, many feel it sets a confusing precedent and raises concerns about fairness and the structure of the competition.
The Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) has yet to release a statement on the matter, but with public opinion sharply divided, some are calling for clearer rules and greater transparency moving forward.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear — the 2025 Soca Monarch may have crowned two kings, but the throne now comes with more questions than answers.