Ticket holders are still waiting on refund details, and his Birmingham, London and Manchester dates remain scheduled.
Nigerian comedian Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY Comedian, has apologised to fans who waited at Valegate Retail Park in Cardiff on Sunday, October 25, for a show that did not go ahead as advertised. In a statement shared on Instagram on Monday, he blamed unresolved payment commitments for the disruption.
"My fellow comedians and I travelled to Cardiff to perform and eventually entered the venue. Unfortunately, unresolved payment commitments delayed our appearance, and by the time we arrived at the hall, most of the audience had left," he said.
Reports from the venue describe hours of delay, confusion and heated arguments, with some attendees leaving without seeing any performance. Some fans said music was playing while they were given repeated assurances that AY was nearby. Reports also mention police presence at the venue.
In a video on his Instagram page, AY gave his side of the story. He said he and his team arrived in Cardiff before 5pm, ready to perform, but that the organisers had not paid the balance for their appearance, which he said was due at the end of September. He said they had raised this before travelling and were assured it would be settled before they left their accommodation for the venue.
AY said that around 10 p.m., a man who introduced himself as a sponsor, Enoch Adekoya of Koya Group, got involved. After that, he said, he and the comedians went into the venue and found that most people had already left. He said he recorded the empty hall himself.
AY's statement was addressed directly to the people who paid to watch:
"You deserved a properly organised show and timely information. You should never have been caught in the middle of a payment dispute."
He said attendees had borne the consequences of what he described as a failure of organisation and communication, and should never have been placed in that position.
AY called on the organisers and his UK tour management to fix the matter for ticket holders. "I am calling on the organisers and our UK tour management to provide a clear resolution for ticket holders, including refund information," he said. As of Monday, the organisers had yet to publicly explain what happened or announce any refund arrangements.
He also told ticket holders they could contact their bank or card provider about a chargeback for any transaction linked to the show, and said they should not have to wait for a possible return show.
AY said he would only return to Cardiff under the right conditions, with a reliable local partner and a clear agreement. He added that he and his team would review what happened and consider formal steps, including reporting the matter to the police. He said he had spent over 20 years building his brand and would not put it at risk. He added: "The agreed payments matter."
The remaining dates on the UK tour were still going ahead, he said. "My show in Birmingham is October 30th. London is October 31st. And Manchester is November 1st."
AY said verified updates would be shared through his official channels.
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