Despite persistent rumors of animosity between the two, comedian and actor Richard Ayodeji Makun, often known as AY, shocked fans by publicly congratulating his colleague Basketmouth on his 46th birthday.
To commemorate the occasion, Basketmouth posted a picture to Instagram on Saturday with the comment, “Say hello to the Birthday Boy. 😁 Life begins @ 46.”
Fans and celebrities alike filled the comment section with birthday wishes, with AY’s comment drawing particular attention.
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He wrote, “Happy birthday my bro. I wish you a fantastic day filled with joy and laughter! May your hard work and dedication continue to pay off.
“May this year bring new adventures, exciting opportunities, and all the success you deserve. Enjoy your special day to the fullest. Eze Gburugburu 1 for a reason.”
In response Basketmouth expressed his appreciation, replying, “Thank you so much bro. I appreciate you.”
AY’s gesture of goodwill was widely praised, with many applauding him for fostering peace between the two comedians.
The interaction comes after years of publicised tension between AY and Basketmouth. The pair had been at odds for over a decade, with the conflict reportedly stemming from a payment dispute.
In a March 2023 interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, AY revealed that early in his career Basketmouth had invited him to fill in for a comedy performance.
However, despite being paid by the event organisers, Basketmouth allegedly failed to pay AY the agreed N30,000 for the show.
While Basketmouth initially declined to respond to the allegations, even expressing his desire to avoid any further contact with AY, the comedian later offered a public apology.
In a video shared via Instagram in 2023, Basketmouth stated, “To my guy AY, I don’t know if my apology is still valid right now, but if it is, please forgive me for whatever I have done or said in the past that affected you in any way.
“I want you to know that I have forgiven you as well, knowingly or unknowingly. I just want peace and harmony.”