By Rita Okoye
Since the entertainment industry became the centre of attraction in Nigeria, fame has been extremely complicated to handle by some top stars, due to the heavy attention they receive from their dotting fans.
Nudity delay and sex tapes have become a center of attraction and also welcomed trend in Showbiz.
Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal, about about three weeks ago found herself at the centre of an ugly scandal after her explicit video surfaced online.
The actress who was well aware of the video recording is seen enjoying a private moment with her lover in the comfort of her bedroom.
The incident caused uproar among her fans and followers, who expressed their disappointment and sympathy for Lawal.
While some criticised her for being gullible to the extent of consenting to record her sexual ecstasy, others alleged that the actress must have intentionally released the tape to gain more popularity.
With this recent sex video of Moyo Lawal, it has become a case of one sex video too many.
In August, an explicit video of popular Nigerian TikTok influencer, Esther Raphael, widely known as “The Buba girl’ surfaced online.
The influencer became a trending topic after the clip of her engaging in explicit self-pleasure (masturbation) went viral on social media.
The intimate video was alleged to have been leaked by some individuals who gained access to the video through her boyfriend.
It was learned that The Buba girl had sent the private video to her boyfriend, trusting it would only be seen by him. However, the lover boy allegedly recorded it with another phone and shared it with other individuals who subsequently used the video to blackmail and threaten her.
The blackmailers later released the video when the TikTok star refused to give in to their continuous extortion.
Like Moyo Lawal, and Buba girl, a vast number of Nigerian celebrities have experienced similar cases of privacy invasion.
Most of these victims lost whopping endorsement deals moment after the footage went viral.
Late 2022, popular Nollywood actress, Empress Njamah’s nude videos were shared on various WhatsApp groups by her former fiance, George Wade after their relationship went south.
Wade posted Njamah’s nude videos while in different parts of her house, including the bathroom. This was after the actress alleging physical assaults, threats to her life and blackmail.
Also, Afrobeat singer, Tiwa Savage, despite her fame and popularity, a blackmailer leaked her intimate footage with her partner.
The singer in an interview session with a popular radio station had revealed that, a blackmailer threatened to leak her sexual intimate footage if she didn’t meet up with his demands. She alerted Nigerians to be aware of the incoming footage.
Days after the interview went viral, the Blackmailer leaked the footage. It immediately engulfed the internet space and was streamed heavily by Nigerians.
Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman who is popularly known by his stage name, Oxlade also fell into this category after his sex tape was leaked.
Multiple sources however reported that the singer mistakenly leaked his sex tape via Snapchat.
In the footage, the sensational singer was seen enjoying the beauty of his victim, who, was at that point, begging him for more.
Within a few weeks, Oxlade gained more fame with millions of music lovers live streaming his songs.
Then again, Adekunle Temitope who is popularly known as Small Doctor also pulled a shocking take on his fans after his sex tape was leaked via his snap chat handle.
In the video, the singer was seen masturbating and flapping his manhood on the screen.
He was heavily dragged on social media which caused him to reveal the reason behind the misfortune.
According to his claim, the short explicit clip was leaked by hackers, who hacked in through his Snapchat account.
Big Brother Naija ex-housemate, Nengi also had her fair share of explicit video/image scandal, likewise her colleague, Ikechukwu Sunday Okonkwo better known as Cross. Jane Mena, Salawa Abeni, singer Peruzzi, and some other Nigerian Celebrities have had their intimate activities leaked online; either personally or by blackmailers.
There are insinuations that some of these celebrities actually release their x-rated videos and photos on purpose; to trend heavily and gain more popularity.
In the 21st century world, it has become almost normal to flaunt these kinds of contents and strategies damning the consequences, if any ever arises.
Intimacy among couples should be something private – Chigozie Atuanya
Has making a sex video or tape crossed your mind before? Or have you and your partner filmed the entire act? Even if the video is made with your knowledge, how much can you trust your partner? While it all looks like fun, your partner may use it against you when things go bad.
According to Nollywood actor, Chigozie Atuanya, “Even if you trust your partner enough, to make a tape with them, what about other factors that can eventually make it available to other people, who may often want to exploit you, with the tape, for instance, your phone or that of your partner might get hacked, stolen or someone close to you might intrude on your privacy, by checking your phone, making it possible for such a tape to get into the wrong hands.”
He added, “Intimacy among couples should be something private, and personal, and not something to be recorded on phones or camera. A sex tape might be a bonding experience for you and your partner. It might spice up your sex life. It might even inject some excitement into your relationship but it’s not worth it. It brings about restlessness, uncertainty, and fear: not all relationship, always leads to happy ever after.”
We are doing our best to curb the menace – Emeka Ejezie, AGN President
Emeka Rollas Ejezie, the National President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) on his part, assured that the guild is doing their best to curb the menace in the industry.
“Each time you find an actor’s nude video spreading there are three questions to ask; is it with his or her consent? Is he or she a victim? Did she or he contravene the AGN laws? The above help the Guild on the action to take. We are not folding our hands over this. Right now, investigation is still going on to fathom the root of the videos leakage. There would be penalties, depending on outcome of investigation. We would also organise seminars to train and guide members from falling victims to things like this,” he said.