Comedian AY Explains UK Show Disruption, Promises Return Under Right Conditions

Ferdinand Ekechukwu and Tosin Clegg Popular comedian and actor, Ayo Makun recently revealed the huge fees some Nigerian artistes currently demand for guest appearances at comedy shows. He said some Nigerian artistes charge as much as N200 million to appear at such shows. Fondly called AY, Makun also explains why booking top musicians have become a major expense for comedy show organisers. AY made this known in a video where he appealed to fans to look beyond the musical performances and focus on the comedy that brings them to the shows. He stressed that his comments were not intended as a criticism of Nigerian musicians or the music industry. He pointed out that booking artistes is only one part of the expenses involved in putting together a comedy show. AY obviously wouldn’t anticipate or imagined the backlash that greeted him days later on Sunday, October 25, following disruption of his show in Cardiff, United Kingdom, blaming unresolved payment commitments for the failure to deliver the scheduled performances at Valegate Retail Park in Cardiff, where AY was billed to perform as part of his “AY Live: Single and Not Searching” UK tour. The incident sparked criticism from fans who sacrificed their time and paid for tickets, expecting to get their monies’ worth. While some angry attendees took to social media to condemn the experience, saying they wasted hours waiting for a performance that never materialised. Some fans said music played at the venue while they received repeated assurances that AY was around. However, the wait continued, confusion mounted, and heated arguments broke out, leaving some attendees to return home without seeing the comedian they paid to watch. In a statement shared on Instagram on Monday, AY said he and other comedians travelled to the venue and gained entry but could not perform before most of the audience left. The comedian apologised to attendees, and acknowledged that they deserved better organisation and timely communication about the event. A video showing AY, Akpororo, and MC Monica had surfaced earlier, showing them at the venue after attendees have left, which AY urged fans to watch before drawing conclusions about what happened. The comedian also expressed appreciation to supporters for helping build his brand over more than two decades, saying he remained committed to maintaining their trust. AY said he would gladly return to Cardiff under the right conditions, provided he worked with a reliable local partner who could help deliver the memorable evening fans expected.