Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has made a startling revelation about a long-forgotten incident involving his colleague Afeez Owo, admitting that he once slapped the actor during a film shoot.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Behind the Fame – African A-List show, Solade responded to a question about who he would apologize to if given the chance, both professionally and personally.
Without hesitation, the actor chose to confess to a past incident that happened on set over two decades ago, involving popular Yoruba actor and producer Afeez Owo.
According to Solade, the slap wasn’t premeditated but came out of sheer frustration during a chaotic shoot in a remote part of Oyo State. In his words:
“We got to that town — somewhere on the outskirts of Ibadan — and after filming, we came back to pitch camp, but the entire place was in total blackout. When I say blackout, I mean you couldn’t see anything unless you were wearing white.”
As tension mounted on the set due to logistical challenges, Yemi admitted that he vented his anger on the production manager at the time, Afeez Owo, who happened to be the easiest target in the dark. Yemi Solade said:
“He was the production manager, so naturally, all the blame landed on him. But the way he was just taking it — like he wasn’t moved — got me so infuriated. That slap came from nowhere, in the dark. I didn’t like that version of myself.”
He added that Afeez Owo left the location early the next morning, and they never properly addressed the issue again. “It’s been over 20 years now, but if I had the chance to apologize on set, it would be to him,” he admitted.
When asked who he’d apologize to off set, Solade mentioned his wife, affectionately referred to as “Darling Mommy,” saying she deserved an apology for all the little things she had to tolerate over the years. He said sincerely:
“That’s who I am. It might be a weakness, but it’s why I keep to myself. I’d apologize to my wife for all those ‘ipata’ (misbehavior) moments she had to put up with.”
The actor also used the platform to shed light on the misconceptions fans have about actors’ earnings. He emphasized that despite the glitz associated with fame, many actors don’t earn as much as the public assumes. He said:
“Some of our colleagues come out and say they’re the highest paid or the richest, but I don’t know how much anyone has in their account. For me, I know what I earn.
“If I was paid 500k, I’ll say it. Let me be cheap. That’s what they could afford.”
Solade explained that acting isn’t a salaried job, and there are no fixed fees. Instead, offers are based on producers’ budgets and actors’ willingness to accept. He concluded:
“It’s not a corporate job. If you overprice yourself, you price yourself out of the market — that’s why some faces are no longer in the industry.”
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