Former Big Brother Naija housemate Samuel Jacob, popularly known as Sammie, has opened up about his emotional and financial struggles since leaving the reality TV show.
In a heartfelt video shared on his Instagram page, Sammie revealed that he battled depression multiple times as he tried to navigate life after fame. Despite the public perception of success, the reality star said he often found himself crying alone in his Lekki apartment, weighed down by the pressures of maintaining an image he could no longer afford.
“A year after the show, I lost count of how many times I felt depressed,” he confessed. “I would sit alone in my house in Lekki and just cry. A grown man like me with beards, crying and asking God why. Some days I’d thank Him, other days I’d just break down.”
The 2021 BBNaija alumnus said financial hardship made things worse, explaining that he frequently received “more debit alerts than credit alerts.”
“There was barely money coming in, but I still had a life to maintain. It messed with my head,” he said.
Sammie also reflected on how leaving university for the show disrupted his academic and career plans, leaving him uncertain about the future.
“I was in Lagos trying to live up to the ‘star boy’ tag, but there was no real income,” he added.
The reality star noted that seeing his peers seemingly thrive added to his emotional burden.
“You’d see young guys pulling up in their G-Wagons while I’d just cook indomie, wear my fine shirt, and nobody would know what I was going through,” he said.
Sammie’s candid revelation has sparked a wave of empathy online, with fans and colleagues praising his honesty and calling for more mental health awareness within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
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