Popular comedian and filmmaker, Ayo Makun, has paid an emotional tribute to late Nollywood actor, Alexx Ekubo, describing his death as a painful reminder that many public figures silently battle personal struggles behind their smiles.
AY shared the tribute on his Instagram page on Wednesday, following reports of Ekubo’s death at the age of 40 after an alleged battle with cancer.
In the lengthy post, the comedian said seeing the actor’s lifeless body left him emotional, noting that Ekubo appeared peaceful in death.
“We lost Alexx Ekubo, a young man, a colleague, a brother, a talent, and someone many people only knew through the smile he gave the world,” AY wrote.
“Watching his lifeless body right in front of me, I can honestly say that even in death, he looked peaceful. He looked like someone who had carried pain quietly for too long and finally found rest,” he added.
The comedian disclosed that the late actor never publicly shared details about his health struggles, saying the development should encourage Nigerians to show more compassion to public figures.
“He never shared or disclosed issues concerning his health with any of us. And that is the part that should make all of us pause,” AY stated.
AY lamented the pressures celebrities face behind fame and social media appearances, including sickness, depression, loneliness and public criticism.
“Behind the fine pictures, the red carpets, the movie premieres, the jokes, the smiles and the celebrity lifestyle, many public figures are fighting battles nobody can see. Some are battling sickness. Some are battling depression.
“Some are battling loneliness. Some are battling family issues. Some are battling the pressure of being judged by people who do not know them personally,” he added.
The comedian referenced other late celebrities, including Chadwick Boseman and Sammie Okposo, while also mentioning late British television presenter Caroline Flack as examples of public figures who endured private pain.
“Alexx reportedly fought stage four liver cancer. Chadwick Boseman gave the world Black Panther while privately battling colon cancer. Sammie Okposo faced public shame and personal battles before his sudden passing. Caroline Flack became a global reminder of how public humiliation and online cruelty can break a human being.
“The painful truth is this: we do not always know what people are carrying. Someone may be losing weight because of illness, and we call them names. Someone may be quiet because they are depressed, and we say they are proud.
“Someone’s marriage may be struggling, and we turn it into social media entertainment. Someone may be trying to hustle just to stay alive, while we use their pain to catch cruise.
“Science may not say trolling causes cancer, but we know that constant stress, humiliation, depression and emotional pressure can worsen a person’s health, break their spirit, run into their shadows and make their private battles even harder to fight. Celebrities are human beings first, just like everyone else who experiences life,” AY stated.
He urged Nigerians to stop mocking people online or turning personal struggles into entertainment content.
“Before you blog that unconfirmed story, type that insult, before you mock that weight loss, before you laugh at that failed relationship, before you turn someone’s pain into content, please remember that your comment may be meeting them at the weakest point of their life,” he added.
“Let us stop waiting for people to die before we love them properly.
Rest well, Alexx. May God comfort your family, your friends, your colleagues, your fans, and everyone who truly knew the battles behind your smile,” he said.
Tributes have continued to pour in across social media since news of the actor’s death emerged, with colleagues and fans mourning one of Nollywood’s most recognisable stars.
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