Ruby Ojiakor Shares Her Chilling #MeToo Story: Losing a Movie Role for Refusing Sex

Nollywood actress Ruby Ojiakor opens up about her harrowing experience in the Nigerian film industry, recounting how she lost a movie role for refusing to sleep with a marketer.

In a recent interview with Punch, Nollywood actress Ruby Ojiakor bravely shared her #MeToo story, exposing the dark underbelly of the Nigerian film industry. Ruby revealed how she lost a coveted movie role for refusing to succumb to the sexual advances of a powerful marketer.

The actress recounted how she was initially called for a job in Enugu and had already shot some scenes for two days, playing the female lead character alongside Ghanaian actor Majid Michel. However, when the marketer demanded sexual favors, Ruby stood firm, refusing to compromise her values.

To her surprise, she was subsequently removed from the project, and her scenes were wiped out. The production manager offered no explanation, and Ruby discovered that Majid Michel had been paid extra to re-shoot the scenes with another actress.

She said: “I remember when I was called for a job in Enugu and we shot it for two days. I was supposed to be the female lead character in the movie.

“The marketer that owned the job wanted to 'get down' with me, but I told him I could not do such a thing.

“I thought that since I had started shooting some scenes in the movie, nothing could be done to me and he cannot cancel my scenes, which I shot with Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel, then.

“I also felt Majid would not want to re-act the scenes he had done before. Those factors made me think that the producer's decision to change me would be fruitless.

“But to my surprise, I was not called to continue my scenes. When I challenged the production manager, he said I should not be angry because someone else had been called to play the role. I was not given any reason for being removed from that project.

“I asked if Majid agreed to re-shoot those scenes, and I was told he was paid extra money to do so. That was how I lost a movie role because I refused to sleep with the owner of the movie.

“The scenes I had already shot were wiped out from that movie. That was a painful experience, but I have moved on.”

Ruby's story is a chilling reminder of the sexual harassment and exploitation that many women face in the entertainment industry. Her courage in sharing her experience serves as a beacon of hope for others who have faced similar ordeals.

Let's applaud Ruby Ojiakor for her bravery and resilience, and let's continue to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced by the industry's toxic power dynamics. Together, we can create a safer and more inclusive space for everyone.