Nollywood performer Ayobami Ojo has sparked a fresh conversation about prejudice in the Nigerian film industry after revealing how the label “actress” has repeatedly cost her opportunities, dignity and peace of mind.

In an emotional video circulating online, Ojo explained that she has long stepped back from active acting, yet continues to be judged through a lens of suspicion and moral scrutiny. She said the public often assumes actresses live reckless or transactional lifestyles, a stereotype she insists has never reflected her reality.

Ojo recounted a painful experience in which she was on the verge of buying a piece of land, only for the seller to abruptly withdraw. According to her, the man later admitted his wife refused to let him sell property to “an actress,” fearing the association would bring shame or trouble to their family.

In another incident, Ojo said a landlord declined to rent her a building for business purposes after discovering her profession. The deal, she claimed, collapsed the moment he realised she was known from Nollywood productions, reinforcing her belief that the title has become a liability rather than an asset.

The stigma, she added, has not been limited to business. Ojo alleged that a man who wanted to marry her was pressured by his family to end the relationship solely because she was an actress. For them, she said, the profession was synonymous with promiscuity and instability, regardless of her personal values or conduct.

Fighting back tears, Ojo pleaded with the public to stop introducing or addressing her as an actress, insisting that the label now feels like a mark of shame rather than a celebration of her craft.

“I’m tired of being called an actress. Please stop calling me an actress,” she said. “I have never done anything wrong. Everything I have, I worked for.”

Her outcry has reignited debate about how Nigerian society views women in entertainment, and whether moral panic around Nollywood has unfairly targeted actresses who are simply trying to build careers and legitimate businesses beyond the screen.