Veteran Nollywood actor, Yemi Ayebo, popularly known as Yemi My Lover, has made a heartfelt appeal for support, revealing he is currently facing financial hardship.
According to [source], the Yoruba film star, renowned for his iconic 1993 movie “Yemi My Lover,” opened up during an interview with Mr LilGaga on YouTube, stating that despite the movie’s widespread popularity, he is still struggling financially.
Ayebo lamented that piracy robbed him of the film’s potential earnings and alleged that movie marketers turned against him after he took charge of the film’s distribution.
“I wrote and produced the film in 1993, and it was a hit, especially in Yoruba-speaking parts of Nigeria,” he shared. “But I didn’t earn from it — 90% of the revenue was lost to piracy.”
He explained that the lack of social media and digital platforms at the time made it difficult to properly promote the movie, leaving it vulnerable to illegal distribution. “Marketers waged war against me for trying to handle the marketing myself. Others profited off my work.”
Yemi added that the situation marked the beginning of his financial troubles and made a passionate plea: “Right now, I’m broke. The industry thrives on connections, and I need more support and opportunities to get back on my feet.”