Ayomide Olaniyan
Renowned actress and media personality Bisola Aiyeola has shed light on the pervasive yet often unspoken issue of s*xual exploitation in Nollywood, sharing her personal stance on the matter.
Addressing a live audience, footage of which was later uploaded to YouTube, Aiyeola disclosed that she has never been propositioned for s*x in return for movie opportunities.
The award-winning actress, also a devoted mother, touched on broader industry adversities, emphasizing that while harassment persists, it is not the sole challenge facing performers and behind-the-scenes professionals.
Over the years, numerous up-and-coming talents have bravely shared accounts of coercive s*xual requests from influential producers and directors—a toxic norm some describe as rampant in casting processes.
Aiyeola, however, attributes her career success solely to her skills, remarking, “Gratefully, I’ve never faced pressure to exchange intimacy for roles. For some of us, this simply hasn’t been our reality. My artistry has—and continues to—open doors.”
She urged for balanced discourse, pointing out that excessive focus on s*x-for-roles overshadows systemic concerns like hazardous work conditions, erratic schedules, and absent welfare protections.
“When debates fixate on s*xual coercion, we risk minimizing other critical industry-wide struggles,” she asserted.
Oluwaseun Adeyemi
