AY Makun, the popular Nigerian comedian and actor, has addressed criticism after failing to appear at his scheduled show in Cardiff, UK.
The event, titled ‘AY Live: Single and Not Searching,’ was set to take place on Sunday at Valegate Retail Park. Attendees shared videos online expressing frustration over AY’s absence, with many leaving without seeing the headline performance.
One attendee wrote on X: “Scam in 2026! I am here live in Cardiff and you @AYCOMEDIAN DID NOT SHOW UP! What a huge shame and disgrace on your brand. You kept us out of our homes from 4pm till after 10pm, with only hype men, DJs, MCs, and upcoming artistes taking the stage to deceive us.”
In response, AY Makun issued a statement on X apologising to fans, explaining the situation from his perspective. He said that while his team was prepared to perform, an unresolved payment issue with the event organisers prevented the show from going ahead. According to AY, the organisers had failed to pay the outstanding balance for his performance, which had been due since September, despite repeated assurances that payment would be settled before his arrival. He added that past experiences with unpaid balances made him insist on receiving payment before taking the stage. By the time an agreement was finally reached, most of the audience had already left the venue.
AY wrote: “I’m so sorry you didn’t get the show you paid for. You fulfilled your commitment, and you deserved better. My team and I were ready to perform. However, the outstanding balance for our performance had been due since September but remained unpaid. Before travelling, we raised the issue and were assured that the payment would be made before we arrived at the venue. A few days ago, we performed despite a similar experience, but our balance remains unpaid to date. We have struggled to reach the organisers, and we had made it clear to them that we would not allow this to happen again. Unfortunately, efforts to resolve the payment issue for this particular show continued into the night. By the time we got into the venue, we discovered that people had left.”
He also called for more accountability from the organisers, stressing that event success depends not just on the artistes but also on promoters and organisers fulfilling their obligations. “It isn’t always the artistes who are at fault. However, I understand that my name and face are on the flyers. An event also depends on promoters and organisers fulfilling their commitments to the audience and the performers. We are sorry that the audience got caught in the middle of this.”
AY urged fans not to let the incident tarnish their view of the entire tour or his long-standing relationship with supporters. “For over 20 years, I have built this brand, and it is my livelihood. I left my family in Nigeria to come and work, and I would never deliberately travel for hours with my team only to disappoint the people who support us. Please don’t let this experience define the entire tour or undermine the long-standing partnership we have built.”
In closing, AY called on the organisers and UK tour management to provide a clear solution for ticket holders, including information on refunds. He promised to share verified updates through his official channels.
