‘Loyalty Is Not Foolishness,’ Yomi Olorunlolaye Fires Back At Critics Over Femi Adebayo Relationship

Veteran Nollywood actor, Yomi Olorunlolaye, has hit back at critics who have tagged his dedication to industry colleagues as subservience, asserting that what many perceive as being a “servant” is actually a deep-rooted commitment to loyalty and professional respect.

Speaking on the challenges of maintaining traditional values in a modern film industry, Olorunlolaye revealed the personal toll his humble nature has taken. He disclosed that his wife was once contacted by an individual who questioned why the actor “acts like a servant” to the Mayor of AFRIMIK, Femi Adebayo.

The actor, however, dismissed these claims as a misunderstanding of his principles. He maintained that his devotion to Adebayo is born out of genuine passion and respect for leadership, stating that he remains by the side of the movie star because he recognizes him as his “Mayor” and president. He lamented that in the contemporary entertainment landscape, loyalty is frequently mistaken for foolishness.

The conversation regarding industry conduct took a sharper turn as Olorunlolaye recounted a recent experience during a high-profile gathering in Abuja. Despite the presence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other dignitaries, the actor chose to prostrate to greet veteran actresses Bukky Wright and Fathia Balogun.

This gesture reportedly drew the ire of a fellow actor, who warned Olorunlolaye that such an act would look unflattering on camera. Rejecting the notion that image should supersede honor, Olorunlolaye questioned the logic of hiding respect for senior figures like Bimbo Oshin or Bolaji Amusan (Mr. Latin) just to satisfy the lens.

In a scathing assessment of the “new school” of Nollywood, the actor suggested that the younger generation has traded character for material arrogance. He noted that the culture of greeting and honoring elders is fast disappearing, largely because many upcoming actors now equate their financial success with an exemption from traditional courtesy.

Olorunlolaye observed that some younger practitioners refuse to acknowledge their seniors simply because the cost of a single tire on their luxury vehicles outweighs the value of the cars driven by those who came before them. While he expressed hope that the respect he sows today will be returned to him in the future, he remained critical of the growing divide between wealth and the “Omoluabi” spirit in the Nigerian movie industry.