Written by Sevastine Stella Osar
Today, Saturday 4th January 2025, happens to be Yul Edochie’s late son’s birthday. Recall that 16 years old Kambilichukwu slumped and died while playing football at school in the year 2023.
Recall also that shortly after his death, Yul Edochie unveiled on social media, his new son and wife.
While Nigerians expressed their grievances and displeasure over his unpleasant actions, it was soon revealed that the actor had been cheating on his wife, had a son, and quietly married a second wife, who happens to be actress Judy Austin, without the knowledge of his first wife, May Yul Edochie.
More controversies erupted when rumors of Judy’s previous marriage surfaced.
In the midst of all these, Yul repeatedly made videos of himself dancing with his new bride.
An act which in most Nigerian customs and traditions, is considered inappropriate and abominable for a man mourning his son.
Yul Edochie stubbornly ignored the masses, and continued making videos of himself dancing happily with his new bride while his first wife grieved the tragic and painful loss of their first son.
In the months that followed, Yul got served Divorce papers by his first wife, May Yul Edochie, after she publicly stated that she can not be numbered, either as first or second wife.
While Yul continued dragging the case in court, refusing to let go, to sign the divorce papers, Nigerians rallied and are still rallying around his ex-wife, turning her life around for the better. May Edochie has over the next couple of months after the passing of her son, bagged a lot of endorsement and ambassadorial deals.
It appears that the heavens smiled on her and showered her with blessings. We can all agree that her transformation from a simple, almost unknown wife to a popular Nollywood actor, to a brand ambassador for numerous brands, a widely known celebrity, a house owner in one of the most expensive part of the Federal Capital of Nigeria, Abuja, and car owner, is the work of God's blessings and the kindness/benevolence of Nigerians.
Yul Edochie on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be doing so well, as most Nigerians have refused to forgive and move on.
He is constantly being booed and insulted on social media by aggrieved Nigerians, who expect him to seek forgiveness from his ex-wife and do right by her.
To the disappointment of many, he further fueled the rage, and dented his already sinking public image, by posting online, a photo of himself on a customized shirt bearing the image of Nigerians' most hated President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with an inscription that says “Relax Jagaban will fix it”, at a time when most people were suffering as a result of some of the President’s new policies, which caused inflation of the prices of goods and services nationwide.
It is therefore not surprising that although Yul is doing the right thing by remembering and acknowledging his late Son’s birthday, he is still being berated and cussed at by aggrieved Nigerians. Commemorating his son's posthumous birthday, Yul wrote on his social media handles, Facebook inclusive, a rather soul-touching piece, wishing his late son a happy posthumous birthday.
He wrote “Happy 18th birthday son, Kambi Yul Edochie. Hope you are doing well over there, flying with the angels and playing basketball and football. I miss you so much. Keep watching over your family. Till we meet again. Forever in my heart, love you son”.
As touching as this message is, some Nigerians are not impressed. According to some, he is using his late son to chase clout. Some agreed that Yul is pretending, using his son’s birthday to attract attention from the masses.
Coincidentally, or should we say as expected? 3 hours after his birthday message circulated social media, Yul Edochie advertised his new movie titled ‘Amuze, The Billionaire Orphan’.
This move has further stirred more disapproval from people who feel he should’ve given a day’s silence in memory of his late son, Kambi.
The controversy surrounding Yul Edochie's personal life serves as a reflection of the societal expectations placed on public figures and the delicate balance between their personal and professional lives. And as the dust settles, one thing remains clear: the debate over Yul Edochie's actions has left an indelible mark on Nigerian popular culture, raising important questions about the nature of love, commitment, and forgiveness.
Ultimately, Yul Edochie's story serves as a reminder that celebrities are human beings, tooflawed and multifaceted, with their own strengths and weaknesses.
See Gallery below for the screenshots of posts and reactions.
