Nollywood actress Ayobami Ojo has opened up about the challenges she says come with being labelled an actress, claiming that stereotypes associated with the profession have affected her personal life, business opportunities, and relationships.

In an emotional video, she expressed frustration over what she described as the negative perception many people have of actresses, insisting that she has done nothing wrong to deserve such treatment.

According to her:

“I’m tired of being called an actress. Please stop calling me an actress. I stopped being an actress years ago, and even when I was an actress, I never did anything wrong.

I say this with my full chest. I didn’t do anything wrong to anybody.

The last time I tried to buy a landed property in Lagos, I didn’t get the land because the owner’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 couldn’t get one. Another place I was interested in, the owner was told, ‘This woman doesn’t even live here. She is in the UK and she’s an actress.’ Immediately the man heard I was an actress, he said, ‘No, I’m not renting my house to an actress.’

What did we do to you people? What exactly did we do to you people?

Now, I’m seeing someone and I’m so in love with that person. Then one family member or friend goes to tell that person, ‘Oh no, you cannot marry an actress. They do too much.’

And it’s somebody following me. I would post something and this person would comment, ‘Lost choke’ under my post. This person is my fellow woman.

For real, this person doesn’t want anything good for me. Because if you want something good for me and you see a good man trying to ask me out, you would say, ‘Yes, they said actresses are not good, but I’ve not seen anything bad about this one.’

What have I done? B@d? I don’t know the right English. I’ve not done anything b@d on Instagram ever since I joined.

The only problem these people have with me is because they say actresses are b@d, so you automatically think we are b@d.

You, this aunty following me, have you ever seen them drag my name? What did I do to you? Except if there is no God.

Those of you who go out there to spoil actresses because of things people put out there, sometimes those things are not even real.

I have to speak up because I am tired.

If they bring us to your family as wives, it’s, ‘No, my family cannot marry an actress.’ If they bring us as friends, people ask, ‘What is she doing now? Why is she forming?’ When we didn’t even form.

It’s frűstr@ting. It’s tir¿ng.

I wanted to do this video since last year when I wanted to get that land, but I overlooked it. I thought, ‘Oh, this is the price I need to pay for being an actress, for having a talent.’

Is it a cr!me? Is it a cr!me? If I need to pay bloggers for this video to go viral, I am ready.

I am not an actress. I am not an actress. The last film I made, if possible, I will sell it or give it to charity. I am tired.

I am tired of being called an actress. You guys, please stop calling me an actress. This is too much.

I have cried today. I’m not crying because this person had to go. Yes, I’m not interested in him anymore. But you guys are ruining our reputation. You guys are saying things that we are not.

You have blood. You have family. You have family members among us.

I work so hard for my money. Sometimes I’m in the UK working 12 or 14 hours to put money together. But you guys go out there and say negative things about us just because you see me on TV.

If you see me flying business class, I have been saving that money one way or another.

I am just a girl who loves to enjoy life. I suf*ered while growing up, and now I want to spend my money and enjoy it, unless I have one godfather somewhere.

Aunty, I am not that kind of girl. This is the first time I’m doing this. I am not interested in that man. Please don’t bring your ins£cůrity to me.

I’m just fed up with you guys. I am fed up with the way you treat us. One minute you show us love, and the next second, if we make one mistake, you turn your backs on us, bully us, and start saying negative things about us.

If another woman chooses to be a second wife, it won’t be a problem. But if an actress chooses to be a second wife, then there is a problem. I am not interested in him.”

Her remarks have sparked conversations online about stereotypes, public perception, and the challenges some entertainers say they face outside their careers.