Veteran Nollywood actor and broadcaster, Patrick Doyle, has dismissed the popular narrative that his estranged wife, Ireti Doyle, is more famous than he is.
In a recent interview with The Muvmnt Studio, the respected thespian addressed the topic with firm confidence, stating that he has built a legacy long before his ex-wife rose to stardom.
During the interview, the host posed a bold question: “Your ex-wife is more popular than you are, how do you feel about that?”
In response, Doyle pushed back strongly against the assertion, emphasizing his long-standing relevance and accomplishments in the Nigerian media and entertainment landscape.
“I have been popular since I was 16. How long has she been around? I have been around for 45 years and I’m still around. I was a superstar at the age of 16; a champion debater. I debated against Yemi Osinbajo,” he said.
He went further to defend the strength of his professional reputation, stating:
“I can never be defined by her. My body of work is too solid to be defined by any human being living or dead.”
Doyle also took a subtle jab at the ongoing public comparison between himself and Ireti, pointing out that she chose to retain his surname even after their divorce.
“Why is the name Doyle popular? Why didn’t she revert and change name at the end of the marriage?” he asked rhetorically.
Patrick Doyle, who first gained prominence as a broadcaster and actor in the late 1970s, married Iretiola Doyle after the tragic death of his first wife to sickle cell anemia in 1999. The former couple, both respected figures in Nollywood, officially confirmed their divorce in 2023 after years of separation.
The interview has sparked fresh conversation on social media about fame, legacy, and how public figures are often defined in relation to their partners. Doyle, however, made it clear that his identity and accomplishments stand firmly on their own.
