AY Questions Church’s Role After Public Scrutiny Over Divorce
Popular Nigerian comedian, actor and filmmaker Ayo Makun, better known as AY, has explained that he stopped attending church gatherings due to public scrutiny and negative narratives surrounding his divorce, rather than a loss of faith.
Speaking in a video shared on his social media page on Sunday, AY said he was going through a personal phase and decided to step back from physical church attendance to avoid becoming the subject of public discussions and judgment.
The comedian said he still maintains his faith and occasionally worships online, stressing that his decision was not because he stopped believing in God.
“For some time now, I stopped attending church not because I stopped believing in God or lost my faith. I was actually navigating a very personal season; the negative narrative put out on the blogs against me.
“So, I chose to step back quietly. Part of that decision was because I didn’t want to become the subject of whispered conversations,” he said.
AY revealed that he later joined another church and began worshipping there but became discouraged after he was removed from a church programme he had initially been invited to participate in.
According to him, the church explained that the decision was influenced by concerns over public perception.
He said the experience made him reflect on the purpose of the church and whether it should serve as a place where people find acceptance, healing and restoration during difficult moments.
“Shouldn’t the church be the safest place to find truth, grace, and restoration? If people cannot run to God’s house when life becomes heavy on them, where are they meant to run to?” he asked.
The comedian questioned whether people facing personal struggles should be left to deal with judgment from social media users or individuals who do not understand the full details of their situations.
AY emphasised that the church should remain a place of grace and restoration, rather than condemnation and judgment.
