Stand-up comedian and filmmaker, Ayo Makun, popularly known as Aycomedian, has said that the peaceful nature of the late actor Alex Ekubo remains alive.
AY noted this as he penned an emotional tribute to late actor Alexx Ekubo, and urged Nigerians to show more empathy toward public figures battling private struggles.
In a heartfelt post shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday , Aycomedian reflected on seeing Ekubo’s body after his death, saying the actor appeared peaceful in spite of the burden he may have silently endured.
The comedian wrote: “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.
“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.”
Aycomedian said Ekubo never disclosed details about his health challenges to friends and colleagues.
He added that the silence reflected the unseen battles many celebrities face behind fame and public attention.
“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,” Makun wrote.
The comedian said many public figures hide pain beneath glamorous lifestyles, noting that some battle illness, depression, loneliness and family problems while facing intense scrutiny online.
“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,” he said.
He claimed the late actor had reportedly been battling stage four liver cancer privately before his death.
He cited other public figures who faced private battles out of public view, including Chadwick Boseman, who filmed Black Panther while battling colon cancer, as well as Nigerian gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, and British TV presenter, Caroline Flack.
“The painful truth is this: we do not always know what people are carrying,” he said.
He decried the culture of ridicule and online trolling, adding that people often mock others without understanding the realities behind their circumstances.
“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,” he wrote.
He warned that although science did not directly link trolling to diseases such as cancer, emotional stress and public humiliation could worsen personal struggles and mental health challenges.
He urged Nigerians to show empathy, reminding them that celebrities are human first.
He also urged social media users and bloggers to think carefully before spreading rumours or mocking vulnerable people online.
