AY Reveals Why He Stopped Going to Church After Divorce

(Ayo Makun. Photo by Tribune Online)

Stand-up comedian, actor and filmmaker Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY Comedian, has explained why he stopped attending church, saying the decision was shaped by the public scrutiny that followed his divorce.

Speaking in a video shared online on Sunday, AY clarified that he did not stop going to church because he had lost his faith in God, but chose to step back to avoid becoming a subject of discussion among church members.

He added that although he no longer attends physical services regularly, he still worships online from time to time.

He explained that for a while he pulled back from church, not out of disbelief but because he was going through a difficult personal period marked by negative narratives circulating about him online, adding that part of his decision to withdraw quietly stemmed from a desire to avoid becoming the topic of whispered conversations.

The comedian also recalled attending another church after leaving his previous place of worship, but said he became discouraged after being removed from a church programme he had been scheduled to take part in, with the church citing concerns about public perception.

According to AY, the experience prompted him to reflect on the role of the church and whether it remains a place people can turn to for support in difficult times.

He questioned whether the church should not ideally be the safest place to find truth, grace and restoration, wondering where people are meant to turn if they cannot seek refuge in God's house when life becomes overwhelming, and contrasting that with those who judge from a distance on social media without understanding the full story, or friends who quietly distance themselves out of concern for public perception.