Veteran Nigerian actor and filmmaker Kunle Afod has spoken out about a traumatic period in his career, describing a profoundly depressing experience in which he was humiliated and emotionally damaged after every scene he acted in was cut from a movie.
During an interview on his official YouTube platform alongside fellow Yoruba actor Apankufor, Afod spoke candidly about the upsetting experience, labeling it one of the lowest points in his professional life.
According to the actor, he had been thrilled about the film’s release and had even purchased cinema tickets for both himself and a woman he wanted to impress, anticipating the proud moment of seeing himself on screen. Instead, the event turned into a bitter disappointment.
As the film played, Afod came to the devastating realization that though he had been involved in multiple scenes, not a single clear shot of his face was retained in the final cut.
He explained that his on-screen appearances were so heavily edited that only indistinct portions of his body—such as his hands or back—were visible. The camera had intentionally avoided showing his face in every scene he appeared in, a decision that left him stunned and heartbroken.
Rather than react publicly or create a scene, he quietly exited the theater before the credits rolled and the lights came back on. The actor admitted that the moment filled him with so much embarrassment that he couldn’t hold back tears.
In hindsight, Afod noted that many actors are quick to accuse producers when their roles are reduced or excluded, but in reality, the responsibility often falls on editors.
He clarified that editing teams sometimes make such calls to reduce film length, especially when a project exceeds expected runtime. Unfortunately, this process can result in key scenes—regardless of the actor’s input—being removed entirely.
“A lot of the time, when an actor’s part gets removed, it’s not always the fault of the person who hired them. Editors frequently have to trim down scenes when a film is running too long. I recall an incident when I featured in a movie, and I was so eager to watch it that I invited a lady and bought us tickets. I thought she’d see me shine on the big screen. But from the first scene I was in to the fourth, my face never appeared. Only random body parts showed up. I was so embarrassed, I left before the film ended. That day broke me—I cried.”
Hear him speak: “I remember one time when I also featured in a movie. I was so excited that I bought tickets for myself and a lady, just to show off and let her see me on screen. Upon getting to the cinema, I realized that whenever my scene came up, my face had been cut out—only parts of my body were visible. This happened from the first scene all the way to the fourth one I featured in. Before the lights came on after the movie ended, I quickly left the cinema out of embarrassment. I cried that day because it was unexpected.”
