Nollywood actress Ayobami Ojo has opened up about the emotional toll of the stigma she says is attached to being an actress, revealing that she no longer wants to be identified by the title because of the discrimination she has faced over the years.
Speaking in an emotional video shared via her Instagram page late Sunday, Ojo recounted several painful experiences she attributed to negative stereotypes surrounding actresses in Nigeria.
According to her, she stopped actively acting a long time ago, yet the label has continued to affect different aspects of her life.
The actress alleged that she once lost the opportunity to purchase a piece of land after the seller reportedly withdrew from the deal because his wife objected to selling property to an actress.
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She also claimed that a landlord refused to rent her a building intended for her business after discovering she was an actress.
Ojo further disclosed that the prejudice extended to her personal life, alleging that a man’s family discouraged him from marrying her solely because of her profession.
Expressing frustration over the persistent stereotypes, the actress insisted that she has always worked hard for everything she owns and has never engaged in any wrongdoing to deserve such treatment.
“I’m tired of being called an actress. Please stop calling me an actress,” she said.
“I have never done anything wrong. Everything I have, I worked for.”
Ojo’s emotional remarks have since sparked conversations on social media about the stigma faced by women in the entertainment industry, with many users expressing support for her and calling for an end to stereotypes associated with Nollywood actresses.