Veteran Nollywood actress, Moji Afolayan, has spoken candidly about being sidelined in the film industry after refusing to submit to sexual advances from movie marketers.
In a recent interview on Oyinmomo TV, which gained attention on Wednesday, the 57-year-old actress—daughter of the late Nollywood icon Adeyemi ‘Adelove’ Afolayan—explained how her principled stand against exchanging sexual favors for roles significantly affected her career.
“Back then, marketers, particularly those at Idumota, were the ones funding film projects. Despite this, because of the values I was raised with, I couldn’t compromise myself for roles,” she said. “Even my husband has never asked me to do such things. I’m choosing my words carefully here.”
Moji recounted that after consistently rejecting such offers, marketers reportedly held a meeting where they decided not to cast her in their productions.
“They deliberately stopped calling me for roles because I refused to give in. I didn’t sleep with anyone, and I didn’t offer my body for roles,” she stated.
She also criticized some married actresses who, according to her, secretly engaged in such dealings while deceiving their spouses.
“Many of them are watching this. They kept their husbands outside while staying with others inside. I’m revealing the truth. Some would ask me, ‘Is it just about your husband?’ simply because I chose not to participate in such arrangements.”
Reflecting on her decision, Moji expressed gratitude for standing her ground.
“I thank God I held on to my dignity and maintained my virginity until marriage. That’s what I value today. Those who did otherwise were made into stars, their faces on posters everywhere—but things changed when they tried to become independent. Conflicts arose, which is inevitable in such circumstances. I didn’t even tell my husband at the time,” she said.
Moji, who is married to fellow actor Rasaq ‘Ojopagogo’ Olayiwola, also shared that a late female colleague suffered similar rejection from a marketer after refusing to sleep with him.
“I wasn’t the only one. One actress, now deceased, told me how her film was rejected at Arena because she wouldn’t comply. She even advised me to stay noble, saying the marketer bragged about how many women in the industry he’d slept with.”
According to Moji, these unethical practices took a toll on her fame and earnings, but she remains proud of her decision.
“It really affected my income and visibility, but I value my body above everything. Even my husband understands this,” she concluded.
