Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Ayebo, widely known by his stage name Yemi My Lover, has made an emotional appeal for help as he struggles to rebuild his career.
Known for his iconic 1993 movie Yemi My Lover, which became a sensation, the actor recently opened up about his current struggles in an interview with Mr LilGaga on YouTube.
Despite the massive success of the movie, Yemi revealed that he is still grappling with financial hardship and has largely been forgotten in an industry he once thrilled with his creativity.
“I wrote and produced the movie in 1993. The movie cut across Nigeria, especially in the Yoruba-speaking part of the country. But I didn’t make money from it because 90% of the money was gotten by piracy,” Yemi lamented.
According to him, the film’s massive popularity did not translate to financial success. Instead, it became a painful memory, a reminder of how he was denied the rewards of his labor due to piracy.
He revealed that despite the movie’s widespread fame, his financial situation worsened because he lacked the support of the industry’s powerful marketers.
Reflecting on the difficult circumstances that followed the release of Yemi My Lover, the actor accused movie marketers of “waging war” against him.
He explained that he decided to handle the marketing of the movie himself, a decision that seemed wise at the time but ultimately backfired.
“I didn’t make a profit from the film because there was no social media, so I didn’t have the opportunity to promote it widely. As a result of this, the movie was pirated, and the marketers waged war against me for handling the marketing myself. It was distributed illegally, and people made a profit from it,” he disclosed.
The actor’s experience highlights the harsh reality of the Nigerian movie industry in the 1990s, where piracy and power struggles were rampant. Today, Yemi My Lover’s situation has gone from bad to worse.
He admitted that he is now broke and barely gets acting roles. His voice trembled as he admitted that his lack of industry connections has kept him sidelined.
“The industry is about connections, and I need more connections to get back on my feet,” he pleaded, making it clear that his talent alone is not enough to secure his place in the highly competitive film industry.
As he called on his colleagues and well-wishers to help him, his words echoed a plea for a lifeline.
The actor’s story is a poignant reminder of the plight of many forgotten stars whose talent and contributions have been overshadowed by the harsh realities of a rapidly changing industry.
Fans of Yemi My Lover and well-meaning individuals are now rallying support for the veteran actor, hoping that his talent and contributions to Nollywood will not be forgotten.
