Veteran Nigerian actor and filmmaker Kunle Afod has opened up about a deeply traumatic moment in his career, revealing how he was left humiliated and emotionally shattered after all his scenes were removed from a movie.
Speaking in an interview on his official YouTube channel alongside fellow Yoruba actor Apankufor, Afod described the experience as one of the darkest and most depressing periods of his professional journey.
The actor recounted how excited he had been for the film’s premiere, even going as far as buying cinema tickets for himself and a woman he hoped to impress, eagerly anticipating the proud moment of seeing himself on the big screen. However, that excitement quickly turned to heartbreak.
As the movie played, Afod was hit with the painful realization that despite featuring in several scenes, not a single clear shot of his face made it to the final cut. He revealed that his appearances had been so drastically edited that only vague glimpses of his body—like his hands or back—were visible. The camera deliberately avoided showing his face in every scene, a move that left him shocked and deeply hurt.
Instead of making a scene or reacting publicly, Afod quietly left the theater before the credits rolled and the lights came on. He admitted that the experience was so humiliating, he couldn’t hold back his tears.
Reflecting on the incident, Afod pointed out that many actors are often quick to blame producers when their roles are cut or minimized, but in truth, the decision usually lies with the editors. He explained that editing teams sometimes have to trim scenes to manage the film’s overall length, especially when it exceeds the expected runtime. Sadly, this process can lead to the complete removal of important scenes, regardless of the actor’s efforts or performance.
“A lot of the time, when an actor’s part gets removed, it’s not always the fault of the person who hired them. Editors frequently have to trim down scenes when a film is running too long. I recall an incident when I featured in a movie, and I was so eager to watch it that I invited a lady and bought us tickets. I thought she’d see me shine on the big screen. But from the first scene I was in to the fourth, my face never appeared. Only random body parts showed up. I was so embarrassed, I left before the film ended. That day broke me—I cried.”
Hear him speak: “I remember one time when I also featured in a movie. I was so excited that I bought tickets for myself and a lady, just to show off and let her see me on screen. Upon getting to the cinema, I realized that whenever my scene came up, my face had been cut out—only parts of my body were visible. This happened from the first scene all the way to the fourth one I featured in. Before the lights came on after the movie ended, I quickly left the cinema out of embarrassment. I cried that day because it was unexpected.”