Nollywood actress Ayobami Ojo has asked Nigerians to stop calling her an actress, saying the label has cost her business opportunities, damaged her reputation, and almost ruined her relationship.

In a video shared on her Instagram page, Ojo said she left acting years ago but still faces discrimination because people identify her with the profession.

“I am tired of being called an actress. Stop calling me an actress,” she said.

Actress label cost me business opportunities

Ojo said negative stereotypes about actresses stopped her from buying land and renting business premises.

“The last time I was trying to buy a landed property in Lagos, I didn’t get it because the seller’s wife said, ‘Oh, I don’t want my husband to sell this land to an actress.’ There was also a time I wanted to rent a place for my business, but I didn’t get it.”

She recalled another incident when a landlord refused to rent his property to her after learning she was an actress.

“Another one I was really interested in… the man was told, ‘This woman doesn’t live here. She goes to the UK and back. She is an actress.’ Immediately, he heard I was an actress, he said, ‘I’m not renting my house to an actress.’ What did we do to you, people?”

Stigma almost ruined my relationship

Ojo also said the same stereotypes nearly ended her relationship.

“Now I am seeing someone. I am talking to that person, and yes, I am so in love with that person. Then one family member or friend tells him, ‘No, you cannot marry an actress. They do juju too much,” she said.

She insisted she has never given people a reason to judge her.

“I have not trended for anything bad on Instagram. The only problem people have with me is that they say actresses are bad. So you automatically think we are bad.”

Considering quitting acting completely

The actress said the discrimination has made her consider leaving the profession for good.

“If it is to outrightly sell the last film I made, I would. I don’t know what to do with it; maybe just give it to charity. I am tired of being called an actress. Please, stop calling me an actress,” she said.

Ojo added that she built her wealth through hard work, including long working hours in the United Kingdom.

“I worked so hard for my money. Sometimes, I work 12 to 14 hours in the UK just to save money. But people go around saying negative things about us just because they see us on TV.”