Ini Edo appeals against withdrawal of ‘A Very Dirty Christmas’ amid controversy

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Ini Edo, has appealed to film regulators and the public to allow her latest movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, to continue screening in cinemas, insisting that the film does not ridicule Christianity and should be judged on its content rather than its title.

In an emotional video shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, Edo pleaded that the movie should not be withdrawn, stressing that the controversy surrounding it was based solely on its title and not the storyline.

She urged critics to watch the film before condemning it, saying she would personally withdraw it if it was found to dishonour God or Christians in any way. According to her, the intention behind the title was never to demean the Christian faith.

Edo explained that the film focuses on family conflicts and the unfolding of hidden secrets, adding that it contains no material that mocks Christianity or Christians. She lamented that pulling the movie from cinemas would have serious financial implications, noting that it had been released nationwide in more than 70 cinemas after significant investment in production, promotion and distribution.

The actress confirmed that regulators had asked her to modify the title of the film and expressed her willingness to comply, while still appealing for time and understanding to avoid an outright withdrawal from cinemas. She said she had no desire to offend Christians, describing herself as a devout Christian.

Edo also apologised to anyone who felt offended by the title, maintaining that there was no malicious intent behind it and reiterating that the film was not meant to discredit Christianity.

Her appeal followed objections raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which described the film’s title as offensive and disrespectful to the Christian faith. In a statement dated December 16 and signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN called for a review of the film by relevant authorities.

Reacting to the concerns, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) said it had asked the producer to modify the title of the movie in response to public reactions. The board added that it was guided by the provisions of the NFVCB Act, which empowers it to withdraw a film from exhibition for further review if considered necessary in the public interest.