NOLLYWOOD actors have begun to blast film director Victor Okpala who was called out for allegedly demanding sex in exchange for movie roles.
Recall that on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, Okpala was called out on social media, and was accused of using his position in the industry to sexually assault young actresses.
Sharing screenshots of her conversation with the director, an actress Oshevire Divine said Okpala made it a must to have sex with him before she can leverage his influence to get movie roles.
“I was going to keep quiet about this..but why should I?this This isn’t a normal thing and shouldn’t be considered as a normal act at all”, Divine wrote. “This is a chat between me and a Nollywood movie producer&director. I have to voice out on this matter..this is wrecking the image of Nollywood. Check my last slide to see.”
Divine continued, “The monologue challenge I wanted to participate in he asked to subscribe to his channel,watch one of his movies then send a proof.So i did according to the guidelines he posted and sent the proof…he replied👆🏽he literally told me that talent is not enough and indirectly said that I’d have to sacrifice my body for me to make it into Nollywood. I don’t know how many other girls he must have deceived like this but this isn’t fair and we shouldn’t keep quiet about this. This happened yesterday, this needs to stop.”
Another actor, Emeka Nwagbaraocha took to Twitter to share a thread of another victim who accused the director of assault when she was 17-year-old.
While the accused is yet to respond to the accusations levelled against him, Nollywood actors have been taking to their social media to slam him.
Amongst the actors who have slammed Okpala is Timini Egbuson. The Tinsel actor tagged the movie director “one of those embarrassing Nollywood.”
Similarly, actress Sharon Ohunene Jatto slammed Okpala for putting out a “say no to rape” post when he allegedly tried sleeping with her.
The actress also accused him of holding movie auditions to hunt for girls.
She said “You see this man, Victor Okpala, this man had the guts to post “say no to rape” because he thinks it’s just social media aesthetics.”
Also confirming the allegations, actress Jemima Osunde said many of her colleagues in the industry have been approached by the accused for sex.
With the sex-for-roles accusations, there is a possibility that Nollywood is on the verge of #MeToo, a movement against sexual harassment and sexual abuse, where people publicise their allegations of sex crimes committed by powerful and/or prominent men.
In view of the brewing accusations in the wake of online protest against gender-based violence, who among the Nigerian celebrities do you think will be called out next?
