Femi Brainard: How I became cab driver in US to feed my family
Femi Brainard, the actor, has opened up about life in the United States since relocating from Nigeria.
In a recent episode of the King of Talk podcast with Teju Babyface, the actor spoke about the challenges he faced in the US, adding that “America does not recognize your stardom”.
He said there would be times he had no money at all and had to feed at a friend’s house with his “whole family”.
“At times it would be so bad, I no go get money for hand and my friend would tell me wetin dey do you? And he would then ask me to bring my whole family over to eat,” he said in pidgin English.
“Yankee no know star o, I am sorry but America does not recognize your stardom, nor does it respect your celebrity.”
Brainard said he once had to become an Uber driver so he could feed his family.
He added that many Nigerians that he carried found it hard to reconcile his new job with his celebrity status back home.
“I was a lift driver too and I did not care because my past is my past, I had to feed my family. I had no qualms with it but when I carried Nigerians they had qualms with it,” he said.
“One day, a Nigerian couple that I carried were shocked when they saw me and asked what I was doing here. They could not believe it.”
Femi Brainard is known for his exceptional roles in both the English and Yoruba movies.
He, however, took a hiatus from the industry in 2013 when he last featured in ‘The Awakening’.
