“I Reacted From A Place Of Hurt” — Lilian Afegbai Apologises To AMVCA Organizers Over Nomination Outburst

Nollywood actress and producer, Lilian Afegbai, popularly known as Lily Afe, has issued a formal apology to the organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) following her recent social media outburst over being snubbed for a nomination.

The actress had expressed strong disappointment after failing to secure a spot in the Best Supporting Actress category for the 12th edition of the awards. Her grievance centred on her performance in the film “To Kill A Monkey,” a project she described as her “breakthrough” moment after years of feeling invisible in the industry.

In a statement posted on her X (formerly Twitter) page on Saturday, Afegbai admitted that her previous comments were disrespectful to the award body, the nominees, and her colleagues.

“This apology should have come earlier. That tweet should not have happened,” she wrote. “It was disrespectful to AMVCA, the nominees, my To Kill A Monkey family, and all of you who have supported me. Honestly, I was disappointed, but that’s not an excuse for how I responded.”

She further explained that her reaction stemmed from a sense of entitlement and hurt, which she acknowledged was out of character. “I’ve come a long way in my journey. To Kill A Monkey felt like my ‘now they see me’ moment, and I held on to that very tightly. I was wrong, and I am sorry. Please give me a chance to be better. I no go fall una hand again.”

The AMVCA, which recently released its full list of nominees for the 12th edition, remains the most prestigious film and television awards ceremony in Africa.