Actor Yemi Solade has publicly apologised to his colleague Afeez Owo for slapping him more than 20 years ago during a movie shoot on the outskirts of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The 65-year-old made the confession during an episode of Behind the Fame – African A-List, describing the incident as one of the moments in his life that still lingers in his memory.

“He was the production manager of a movie. I can’t recall the year. We got to the town outskirts of Ibadan and when we finished filming… he was laying some accusations and it got me infuriated. That slap came from nowhere in the dark,” he said.

“I don’t like insults, and that could be my weakness.”

Yemi continued: “Let me apologise to Afeez Abiodun. I slapped him once… He left the location early in the morning, and we woke up not seeing him. So, Afeez, I’m sorry, mabinu simi. It’s been a long time, like 20 years.”

The apology has since gone viral, with many social media users praising the actor for taking responsibility for his past actions.

Yemi Solade remains one of the most recognisable faces in Nollywood. In recent years, he has featured in several notable productions including Ijogbon (2023), a Netflix original directed by Kunle Afolayan where he played Chief Owonifaari; Ajosepo (2024), a family drama directed by Kayode Kasum; and Her Excellency (2025), a political thriller starring Sola Sobowale, Femi Adebayo and Odunlade Adekola.

He also appeared in Òlòtūré (2020), a Netflix film tackling human trafficking, and Don’t Get Mad, Get Even (2019), where he starred alongside Toyin Abraham and Patience Ozokwor.

The 64-year-old also came under fire in 2024 for a scene in 5Alive which featured him kissing a fellow male actor. He responded to critics by stating that he was simply doing his job as a professional.

As of the time of filing this report, Afeez Owo is yet to respond publicly to the apology. The actor, who is married to actress Mide Martins, is also a producer and has featured in numerous Yoruba-language films.