Nigerian Afrobeat superstar Yemi Alade has opened up about a deeply personal chapter of her life, revealing how lying about her age for years pushed her into depression. The Johnny hitmaker made this striking confession during an emotional interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, describing it as one of the most mentally challenging experiences of her career.
The Yemi Alade Age Lie Depression Confession sheds light on the hidden emotional struggles that often accompany fame, especially in an industry where youth and image play a crucial role in public perception.
According to Yemi Alade, the deception began innocently when she started shaving years off her actual age. For three years, she consistently told people she was 22 when, in reality, she was 25. Over time, she began to believe her own story — until the truth suddenly caught up with her.
“There was a time someone asked me how old I was, and for about three years I kept saying 22,” she recalled. “When I realized I was actually 25, I was depressed for a few days because my mind couldn’t process it. For three years, I didn’t know my age.”
Her confession paints a raw picture of how the pressure to remain youthful and marketable can lead artists to lose touch with their authentic selves. The mental strain of maintaining that illusion became too heavy, leaving the singer emotionally drained.
Yemi Alade’s openness has sparked empathy and admiration from fans who see her story as a brave step toward destigmatizing conversations about mental health in the entertainment industry. It also serves as a powerful reminder that authenticity and self-acceptance are vital, even in a world that often rewards illusion.

