Deyemi Okanlawon Rejected by Producer Over Instagram Followers

Nollywood actor and producer Deyemi Okanlawon recently revealed a surprising challenge he faced early in his career. During an interview with the Echoo Room, the 45-year-old actor shared that he was once turned down for a role by a producer because his social media presence wasn’t strong enough.

Opening up about his struggles, Okanlawon emphasized that he initially prioritized honing his acting craft over building his brand. He recounted an incident where a producer dismissed his fee request, citing his low Instagram follower count.

“Honestly, I focused more on the craft than the business aspect, especially the brand-building part of acting,” he said. “One producer wanted me for a project but balked at my fee, saying I didn’t have enough Instagram followers. I thought, ‘Why am I being judged by my follower count?’ But I realized I couldn’t fight it; I needed to build my brand.”

Deyemi’s persistence eventually paid off. He started working with top producers like Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, Kemi Adetiba, and Mo Abudu. Reflecting on this journey, he said, “…the first call came from Funke Akindele, then Kemi Adetiba, Mo Abudu, Niyi Akimolayan, and Kunle Afolayan.”

By the end of 2020, Okanlawon starred in “Omo Ghetto: The Saga,” which became the highest-grossing movie in Nigerian cinema. This role solidified his position as the highest-grossing actor at that time, marking a significant turnaround from the early rejection based on his Instagram followers.