Bolaji Ogunmola Bows To Pressure, Tenders Heartfelt Apology Over Yoruba Insults In Movie
Nollywood actress and producer Bolaji Ogunmola, has finally bowed to pressure by rendering an apology to her tribesmen, the Yorubas.
The beginning of the controversy emanated from a movie scene, where actor IK Ogbonna made several derogatory remarks about the Yoruba girl to Bolaji Ogunmola.
"Yoruba girl, Yoruba girl, you people are very dirty… That’s how I will be seeing tissue up and down, your pants will be hanging in the staircase, that your bra that is like cotton, I will come and see it in my parlour."
Following the crash out from many Yorubas on X (formerly known as Twitter), Ogunmola clarified that she had no hand in the scene, explaining that it was the director's discretion, and her role as a producer could not hinder it.
"I didn’t write the script/wasn’t even in the script. He improvised those lines, and I can’t cut him. There are ways things are done in my industry. It’s a director’s film and vision. Not the producer."
Her explanation didn't sit down well with many, as they hurled insultive words at her, slamming her for inciting tribal wars.
Consequently, Bolaji Ogunmola in a lengthy post on X, apologized to her tribesmen for the error, disclosing that she has faced insults and threats to her life and livelihood, which she has found disturbing.
She also maintained that she is in no way a party to stereotypes, promising that moving forward, such errors wouldn't come to light.
She wrote: "First of all, I want to apologize to well respectable Yoruba people for this error, The insult and threat to life and livelihood I have experienced (dms saying all sorts / threat to take my youtube page / even as far as wishing my parent death andending my career) in the last 3 days has been extremely disturbing. Imperfect match the film was made 3 years ago…it was meant to be a comedy film between 2 tribe and a lot of disagreement and fights before a resolution of love. That’s what the film is about ..we never intended 3 years ago to make a film to stereotype any tribe that was fictionally displayed. We truly and genuinely just wanted to make a film people will love and know that we can co-exist as a united nation. I was subtly trying to explain why i couldn’t do anything at the time or insisted on a different direction at that time because I was honestly an actor on set in this scene even though I produced it. On set my director has the final say, that’s why in films it’s a film by the named director not the producer not the actor. I am not also a script writer , I didn’t write that script neither did we actively include the phrase to disrespect or ascribe a tribe that I am extremely proud to belong to. I am Yoruba, omo ibadan ponbele ni mi. Most importantly at that time neither of us knew better. To my people and lover of my work. I am not a disrespectful person, neither would I agree to stereotypes agenda knowingly done. Never. I also don’t like trouble or drama that’s why I would rather exist the room. Again this is duly noted and we truly apologize and as the producer I take full responsibility."