‘Refusal to trade sex for roles cost me jobs’ — Moji Afolayan

By Tosin Brown –

Veteran actress Moji Afolayan has revealed that she was blacklisted and denied acting roles for refusing to offer sex in exchange for film opportunities. The 57-year-old thespian made the disclosure during a recent interview.

Afolayan, who is the elder sister of renowned filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and wife of actor Razak Olayiwola, popularly known as Ojopagogo, recounted how her refusal to give in to sexual demands led to a coordinated effort among marketers to stop casting her.

“Before now, marketers used to give producers money to work. But because I refused their sexual advances, they held a meeting among themselves and agreed not to call me for work,” she said.

She stood firm on her principles, insisting she could never trade her body for movie roles. “I did not sleep with any of them because I can’t trade my body for films. It’s my principle. I know they will watch this interview,” she added.

Moji further alleged that even married actresses were not exempt from the trend, claiming some would attend meetings with marketers while their husbands waited outside. “I’m exposing their secrets now,” she said.

“Marketers made them stars. Their posters were everywhere. But I thank God that I stood with my dignity. That is what I am enjoying today,” she noted.

She acknowledged that her principled stance affected both her career growth and finances. “They denied me movie roles because I didn’t offer myself for sex. Although it affected my income and fame, I cherish my body more than every other thing. Even my husband knows,” she said.

Afolayan concluded that things are now different, with more control in the hands of filmmakers through digital platforms. “They now know how it feels because they have made us social media-friendly. We now push our movies on YouTube without any marketers,” she said.