Nollywood actress Ayobami Ojo renounces acting profession

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

Nollywood actress Ayobami Ojo has renounced her identity as an actress, citing the stigma she says is associated with the profession.

In a video posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, Ayobami expressed frustration as she recounted several experiences she claimed were linked to negative stereotypes about actresses. She said she quit acting a long time ago, adding that even during her years in the industry, she never lived the kind of lifestyle often associated with actresses.

She recalled losing the opportunity to purchase a piece of land in Lagos after the owner allegedly withdrew from the deal because his wife objected to selling the property to an actress.

Ayobami also recounted another incident in which a landlord reportedly refused to rent an apartment to her after discovering she was an actress. According to her, the decision affected her business because she intended to use the property for commercial purposes.

She further claimed that the stereotype extended to her personal life, alleging that she lost a suitor because his family discouraged him from marrying her due to her profession.

Visibly emotional while narrating her experiences, Ayobami appealed to the public to stop referring to her as an actress, insisting that she has worked hard for everything she owns and has done nothing to deserve the judgment associated with the profession.

“I am tired of being called an actress. Please stop calling me an actress. Even when I was an actress, I have never done anything wrong. Everything I have, I worked for it,” she said.

She added that she might be compelled to sell the rights to her last movie and donate the proceeds to charity, further distancing herself from the acting profession.