Dante Okere plays the villain in Showmax's Under the Influence

In episode 5 of Under the Influence, Dami (Iremide Adeoye) finds himself at the centre of a social media storm. A club owner’s viral video accuses him of owing ₦4 million, and in an instant, admiration turns to scrutiny. While his friend Oye (Isioma Okey-Nwosu) sees an opportunity in the chaos, Dami quickly realises that online fame offers no protection from real-world consequences. 

Meanwhile, the rivalry between Dami and Folarin, played by Dante Okere, continues to deepen. Folarin is a commanding presence in the influencer world - stylish, confident, and accustomed to being in control. But as Dami’s star rises, Folarin’s dominance is threatened, leading to a power struggle between the two. Dante’s portrayal of Folarin captures the intoxicating allure of power and the fear of losing relevance, highlighting the dangers of unchecked ambition in a world where perception is everything. 

Watch the interview with Dante Okere

 In a recent interview, Dante opens up about playing Folarin, the appeal of playing a villain, and the dangers of letting fame cloud one's judgment. 

What was so exciting about playing my role? 

I think Folarin is very fashionable. That’s the most exciting part for me. And it was an opportunity for me to play something I’ve always wanted to play - a villain. So that was like number two. But the most exciting part was the fact that the character is very fashionable. I liked the styling and the whole vibe. 

In your opinion, is Folarin a victim or a bad person due to circumstances? 

So, I won’t say he’s not a victim. Folarin, from the character, just felt too comfortable. He felt untouchable. So, I think fame got into his head. I won’t call him a victim. I feel like he’s a bad person here. 

Do you think viewers will sympathise with Folarin’s story? 

No, I think you guys are going to hate him really bad. Folarin is a bad guy - you’re going to hate him. You might like him, though. ‘Cause he’s very stylish, and I mean, I played Folarin. 

How did you prepare to take on the role of the villain? 

It started from the audition tape. You know, when I got the audition, I just knew what I needed to do - what was needed for the character. I mean, sometimes, as actors, playing the villain is very enticing to us. So, that was exactly what I needed. I didn’t really prepare like that. I just got on the script and worked on it. 

If you could give your character one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Folarin is proud. Like I said, the fame went to his head, and he felt untouchable until Dami came into the picture and, you know, outclassed him. So, make him just calm down, you understand, and just chill. My advice is, everybody can hit; the sky is big enough for every bird to fly. So, my advice is, calm down. Calm down.  

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for social media validation?

 I’ve bought followers. It was about my IG algorithm. I wasn’t getting enough likes, and I put out content. I put out nice pictures, and I felt like the likes and comments were not adding up. So, I bought followers. 

Episodes 1-5 are now available to stream on Showmax, with new episodes released every Friday.