Following her viral “Eat your award” outburst earlier this week, Nollywood actress and producer Lilian Afegbai (Lily Afe) has issued a formal public apology today, Saturday, April 4, 2026, for her reaction to being snubbed by the AMVCA.
In a sincere statement shared across her social media handles, the actress walked back her previous comments, admitting they were “disrespectful” and “out of character.”
The “Moment of Weakness”
Lily Afe explained that her emotional reaction stemmed from the deep personal investment she had in her role as Idia in the Netflix series To Kill a Monkey. She described the project as her “now they see me” moment after years of feeling invisible in the industry, which led her to hold onto the hope of a nomination “too tightly.”
Key highlights from her apology include:
- Admitting Entitlement: She confessed that her initial response was driven by a sense of “hurt and entitlement” rather than professional objectivity.
- Apology to Colleagues: She explicitly apologized to the AMVCA organizers, the actual nominees in the Best Supporting Actress category, and her To Kill a Monkey family.
- A Plea for Grace: Acknowledging her mistake, she asked fans and the industry for a chance to be better, promising, “I no go fall una hand again” (I won’t let you down again).
Industry Context
While many fans had originally supported her “Idia” performance as one of the standout viral moments of 2025, industry observers noted that her apology helps de-escalate a tense week for the 12th AMVCA. The awards, now under the leadership of Head Judge Joke Silva, have faced significant pushback for moving major categories to a jury-only format—a move Lily Afe’s initial outburst had come to symbolize.
