Toyin Ibrahim’s Team Clarifies Afolayan’s Box Office Remarks, Says Comment Was Sarcastic

The management of Nollywood actress and producer Toyin Ibrahim has addressed recent comments attributed to filmmaker Kunle Afolayan regarding box office earnings, clarifying that his reference to a producer earning ₦10 million from a ₦1 billion or ₦2 billion gross was sarcastic and not meant to be taken literally.

In a statement released on Monday by Ibrahim’s manager, Samuel Olatunji of The Hype Agency, the actress’s team disclosed that she had received numerous calls and messages seeking her reaction to Afolayan’s recent remarks on film profitability and promotional pressures in the Nigerian film industry.

According to the statement, Ibrahim understood the broader message Afolayan was trying to convey, highlighting the gap between headline box office figures and the actual returns filmmakers receive after deductions and revenue sharing. However, it noted that the tone of comments circulating from Afolayan’s film premiere was interpreted by some industry stakeholders as dismissive of the effort, risks, and sacrifices involved in filmmaking, particularly by female producers.

The management revealed that Afolayan personally reached out to Abraham following the public controversy to clarify his comments.
“During their conversation, Toyin expressed her concerns about how the remarks could be perceived as undermining others’ efforts. Mr Afolayan explained the context and intent, and both parties resolved the matter amicably,” the statement said.

It described as unfortunate the expectation by some quarters that Abraham would publicly criticize Afolayan, emphasizing that their long-standing professional relationship has never been adversarial.

The statement also dismissed online claims suggesting Ibrahim questioned the authenticity of blockbuster box office figures, stressing that she maintains close ties with industry stakeholders responsible for certified box office reporting.
“There is no basis for doubting credible and verifiable numbers,” the management said.

Ibrahim’s team further clarified that she has never expressed resentment over any filmmaker’s box office success. Instead, her consistent concern has been about fair cinema screening slots, which significantly influence revenue generation and box office performance.

While acknowledging the achievements of filmmakers breaking box office records, the statement described such milestones as impressive, especially given the challenging production environment, rising costs, limited cinema screens, and revenue-sharing frameworks that often reduce profits for producers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Afolayan’s mention of ten million naira was clearly sarcastic. No producer earns ten million naira from a one billion or two billion naira box office performance,” the statement emphasized.

The management urged industry stakeholders to use the ongoing debate to address structural challenges and develop sustainable business models that improve profitability for filmmakers, rather than fueling public disputes.

The clarification follows a wave of social media reactions to Afolayan’s recent comments on film promotion culture and box office expectations. The filmmaker had earlier revealed that actress Funke Akindele contacted him to express displeasure over remarks he made about the growing pressure on filmmakers to engage in social media skits, dances, and constant online presence to promote movies.

Speaking on ARISE TV, Afolayan said Akindele accused him of disliking her and requested that he stop mentioning her name after a viral clip from the 2026 Lagos Business of Film Summit. He later clarified that his comments were not directed at any individual but were made within the context of sustainability in the film business, noting that high box office figures do not always translate into significant profits for producers.

“There’s no competition. I don’t want two billion in cinema, or even one billion, if I won’t make ten million from it,” Afolayan had said, explaining that producers often receive less than 30 percent of box office revenue after deductions for exhibitors, taxes, distribution, and marketing costs.

He also confirmed that he had spoken with Ibrahim, who, according to him, understood his perspective on profitability and the evolving demands of film promotion.