Nigerian comedian, YouTuber, actress, brand influencer, and entrepreneur Mariam Oyakhilome has opened up about one of the darkest chapters of her life, revealing how her relationship with a married man nearly destroyed her emotionally, mentally, and professionally.
In a candid interview with Naijatimes, the outspoken entertainer reflects on her painful heartbreak in 2025, her temporary exit from social media, her renewed faith, and her determination to make a powerful comeback in 2026.
Describing 2025 as both traumatic and transformative, Mariam noted that the year marked her return to the spotlight after a long hiatus. “2025 was my comeback year. I had been away from social media for a long time. I came back with my reality show, *Love and Chaos*, which has started gaining attention. In 2026, I’m going to get even bigger because I’m planning an even larger comeback,” she said.
Mariam explained that her disappearance from the digital space was due to a toxic online culture, combined with her emotional heartbreak, which pushed her into isolation. “Social media became too toxic for me, and at the same time, I was dealing with a very hurtful heartbreak. I first left Instagram, then moved to Facebook, where I have over 2.2 million followers. Eventually, I left there too. I tried TikTok, but it felt like you can’t really escape the toxicity on these apps,” she explained.
The heartbreak cut deeper than many imagined. According to her, she discovered that the man she was emotionally invested in was married, and his wife lived outside Nigeria. “One day, we had an issue, and I decided to search for him on Facebook. That’s when I saw pictures of his wife. I was shattered. I stopped working, stopped talking to people, and became suicidal. It affected my life, my career, and even my finances,” she recounted.
At her lowest point, help came from an unexpected source. “My friend, Femi Babs, helped me heal. We are no longer friends now, but at that time, he stood by me and led me to God. He was always there, and that support saved me,” she said with gratitude.
When asked about the possibility of dating or marrying someone within the entertainment industry, Mariam was emphatic. “No way. I can be foolish online; why would I marry someone who does the same thing I do?” she said, half-jokingly.