Veteran Nigerian comedian cum film actor, Bright Okpocha professionally known as Basketmouth has revealed his intention to quit his professional career in comedy in five years time.
This is coming days after his colleague, AY Comedian called him out on their age-old beef.
In an interview recently released by Hitz FM, Basketmouth shared how he had just been floating for the past six years in the industry and decided to return to comedy last year.
The comedian revealed he had made enough from the art to last him for life as he revealed his desire to have new experiences aside from comedy. In his words:
“For the past six years I have just been floating, last year I told myself and my team, you know what I am going back to comedy I want to do five years and I am quitting. I am quitting in 5 years.
I have got five years to go to do this and I am done. I will still be cracking jokes but it wouldn’t be a professional thing. So if you see me doing any gig, it is maybe I am doing pro bono but i will not charge anybody to perform again.
I have made enough, I have committed myself to the art enough to take a break or quit. I am now into movies, series, and concert production. I want to experience something new and I want to be remembered for something else other than comedy.”
Asides comedy, Basketmouth is already in the music and movie industries. Watch the video below:
Recall Nigerian comedian cum actor, AY Makun has told his side of the story about his ‘beef’ with colleague, Basketmouth.
He spoke very candidly about the genesis of the long-lasting feud between him and Basketmouth during an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo.
Recall that AY, during an Instagram question and answer session in 2022, said Basketmouth has an “uncontrollable superiority complex.”
Not stopping there, he noted that he (AY) had to avoid Basketmouth’s “incessant childishness” for his own sanity. AY Comedian replied a fan who asked if he had issues with Basketmouth:
“I don’t have issues with him. But people having unnecessary issues with you is the price you sometimes pay for being progressive. He has been battling with his uncontrollable SUPERIORITY COMPLEX for the longest. So avoiding his incessant childishness only became necessary for my own sanity.”
Well, shedding light on the controversial statement in a recent chat with Chude, AY revealed his issue with Basketmouth started as far back as 2006. He narrated how he had gone to stand in for Basketmouth at an event that he was supposed to pay him N30,000 for, but Basketmouth lied to him that the event host wasn’t pleased with his job to avoid paying the money.
Read his full narration below:
“In 2006, (Basketmouth) usually will get gigs Iike weddings- multiple gigs on a Saturday, maybe 2/3 weddings. So what he used to do at that point in time was to attend one, then at a point, leave the venue and catch up in the other venue and then you will need someone else to stand in for you. That was the opportunity 1 got from him of which I am very appreciative of till date.
“Now, Something funny happened. One of the gigs per say, I got his endorsement to go stand in. Usually what we get at that time is N30,000 and 30,000 at that time was everything to me. 30,000 would buy me my pack of indomie, recharge cards, fuel for my 1 better pass my neighbor generator and then opportunity to pay just one or two people to join me to do one or two skits that I can just quickly put out.
“I got this job and the people weren’t too happy to see me around the venue because they were expecting a Basketmouth to come. Long story short, the guy was later happy after the performance. There was an exchange of contacts. Then I left. Two weeks running, I haven’t seen 30k. Because I didn’t see the 30k, and I was starving in lponri, I decided to ask for 30K and he said this person hasn’t remitted, this person hasn’t paid, you they’ re not happy because of this and all of that.
“And then me l was like, ahahn… but this person na, shebi you tell me say you were impressed and happy? Give my oga hin money na, make my oga take settle me and all of that. Me,I dont care if you give Basket 100k for the job but my 30k is my 30k.
“It was very funny to now hear from them knowing that this full payment has been made long before the event.
“I said ‘0-kay, is that the situation?’. So I forwarded this one’s message to this one and vice versa. So they now started fighting each other and all of that. 1 didn’t do that because I wanted to get at Basketmouth per say. I did that because I was hungry, I was hustling and needed food on the table at the time.”