Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Ayebo, famously known as Yemi My Lover, has opened up about his current financial struggles, despite the widespread success of his iconic 1990s movie Yemi My Lover.
In a recent interview with LilGaga, the actor shared that he has not reaped the financial rewards of his work due to rampant piracy and unfair treatment within the film industry. He revealed that despite producing and marketing the movie himself, he was sidelined by marketers who opposed his independent efforts.
“I created and produced the film back in the ’90s, and it became a huge hit, especially among Yoruba-speaking audiences,” Yemi said. “But I didn’t earn from it. About 90% of the revenue went to pirates.”
He explained that the absence of social media at the time made it difficult to promote the film effectively, leaving it vulnerable to unauthorized distribution. According to him, some marketers intentionally sabotaged his efforts, leading to further financial losses.
“That was the beginning of my challenges,” he admitted. “I’m in a tough place financially right now, though I still have friends in the industry.”
Yemi’s plea underscores the long-standing issue of piracy in Nollywood and its impact on content creators.
