A Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie Success, has criticised Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli over the release of a movie featuring the late actor Alexx Ekubo shortly after his burial, accusing her of using public grief to promote her YouTube channel.
Ossai made the remarks in a Facebook post on Thursday, where he expressed disappointment over Oboli’s decision to release The First Lady, a movie starring the late actor, barely hours after he was laid to rest in his hometown of Arochukwu, Abia State.
The governor’s aide alleged that the timing of the movie’s release suggested an attempt to benefit from the emotions surrounding Ekubo’s death.
“I’m disappointed in Omoni Oboli for using Alexx Ekubo’s burial to promote her movie and to cash out,” Ossai wrote.
According to him, while Oboli stated that all proceeds from the film would be donated to the late actor’s family, the release would still attract traffic, subscribers and publicity to her YouTube platform.
He argued that the actress’ explanation that the film marked the beginning of their friendship more than a decade ago did not justify announcing and promoting it immediately after the actor’s funeral.
“Using someone’s death as PR to gain subscribers is disturbing. To cash out under the pretence of donating proceeds to the family or keeping his memory alive is disappointing,” he said.
Ossai further insisted that grief should not be transformed into a promotional strategy, stressing that funerals should not be treated as marketing opportunities.
“Grief is not content. A funeral is not a launch event. Alexx Ekubo deserves to be remembered for his life, his work and his impact, not repackaged as a trailer for a movie,” he added.
The media aide maintained that if Oboli’s intention was genuinely to honour the late actor, she could have delayed the announcement until a later date.
“We have to start calling this out. Tragedy should not be a content calendar event. Let’s protect the dignity of the dead and stop monetising people’s pain,” he stated.
The criticism followed Oboli’s announcement that she would release The First Lady in memory of Ekubo, whom she described as a close friend and one of the stars who gave his all to the project.
Sharing a video on her social media pages after the burial, the actress said the movie was significant because it marked the beginning of their friendship over 11 years ago.
“Today we finally laid our bestie, late Alexx Ekubo, to rest. In honour of his memory, I will be releasing The First Lady, a movie that started this whole friendship 11–12 years ago,” she said.
Oboli also disclosed that all proceeds generated from the movie would be handed over to Ekubo’s family as a gesture of support and respect.
Alexx Ekubo was buried on Thursday in Ujari, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, in the presence of family members, colleagues and other dignitaries.
The actor died on May 11 at the age of 40 after battling complications arising from advanced metastatic kidney cancer.