Veteran Nollywood movie marketer Akeem Olatunji Balogun, widely known as Olasco Films, has hit back at actors Okunnu and Austin Emmanuel, describing them as ungrateful following recent allegations against him.
Okunnu had accused Olasco of keeping all the earnings from a movie he produced 16 years ago, stating, “I haven’t forgiven Olasco.” Similarly, Austin Emmanuel claimed that Olasco Films and his affiliate, Toymax Films, had blacklisted him in the industry. He also alleged that Toymax was involved with his girlfriend, Aisha Raji, contributing to his prolonged absence from the screen.
In an interview with actor Tunde Ola-Yusuf, Olasco defended his actions and contributions to both actors’ careers.
He said of Okunnu: “Okunnu is like a blind man using a walking stick, and when he regained his sight, he threw away the walking stick that was guiding him when he was blind. That’s who he is for him to say he worked for me without pay. Okunnu collected N2 million from me to produce the movie for me 16 years ago. As at that time, production only cost between N700,000 to N1 million.”
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On Austin Emmanuel, he added: “Austin Emmanuel wants to trend with my name. I assisted him to advertise the very movie that made him famous in my films, so he’s an ingrate.”
Olasco’s comments emphasise his role in shaping the careers of both actors while rejecting claims that he exploited or sidelined them.