Nollywood star Bimbo Ademoye has faced a major setback as her widely viewed short film, To Be a Friend, has been taken down from YouTube due to copyright complications involving the film’s soundtrack.
The actress, who had proudly released the project on her YouTube channel BimboAdemoyeTV, announced via Instagram on Tuesday. At the time of its removal, the film had nearly reached an impressive six million views and had been steadily gaining popularity since its release in July.
In her statement, Bimbo explained that the takedown stemmed from a copyright issue related to the music used in the film. Though she refrained from sharing full details, she assured fans that her team had followed proper procedures in obtaining the rights but unforeseen complications still arose.
“To Be a Friend is no longer on the YouTube channel, it’s sad, but life goes on,” she wrote. “We had a bit of a situation with copyright issues on sound. No, we didn’t go through back doors, and yes, we picked the right channel, but it is what it is.”
She added that the film may need to be re-uploaded, meaning the team could lose all previous views and engagement. Despite the disappointment, Bimbo expressed hope and gratitude, asking her fans to rally behind her once again.
“If we re-upload and start from zero, I’ll super appreciate it if you all can support by watching, liking, sharing, subscribing, and spreading the word. I can’t do it without you,” she said. “Are we going to get six million views again? I don’t know. But God is God. He sits on His throne and watches over us.”
To Be a Friend, directed by Great Val Edochie, stars Bimbo alongside Uzor Arukwe, Deyemi Okanlawon, and Kunle Remi. The emotional drama quickly captured the hearts of many online, becoming one of Bimbo’s most celebrated digital releases.
Despite the setback, fans remain optimistic for its return—and Bimbo’s resilience and transparency have only earned her more support.