Entertainment

No Man Appreciates Me, I Don’t Know If I’ll Get Married – Nigerian Actress Cries Out

Published

9 months ago

September 14, 2024

…Says, ‘I wash, cook, clean my man’s apartment but what I get in return is scorn’

Fast-rising actress, Joan Johnson has seen it all. From being a house help after the death of her parents, to being a bar attendant and sexually harassed by her masters.

She was also duped of N4.7m by one of her friends who offered to help her process travel documents even as the supposed friend attempted to push her into becoming a stripper in Kenya.

Joan, who was also sexually harassed by her uncle, struggled to rise above her challenges and today, she’s living her dream as a movie star. She shares her touching story with Saturday Vanguard.

How it all started

I lost my parents at the age of 7. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I attended the best of schools and my dad was a pastor before his death. After his death, I lived in different homes as a house help and the husbands in those homes attempted to sleep with me as small as I was then. Even my father’s elder brother sexually harassed me. I never told anyone about it because I want to use my life story as a movie in future. I started out as child-actor at 13.

Then I used to act alongside Regina Daniels. I have always wanted to become a superstar. I stayed at Okpanam near Asaba. Then, I used to visit one of the popular hotels in Asaba where actors gathered for auditions. A friend of mine took me to the place for an audition, while I was still in secondary school. I auditioned for a minor role in a movie. That was my first ever role in a movie. Unfortunately, my grandfather didn’t want me to end up as an actress.

So, it was difficult for me to shuttle between Okpanam and Asaba. Later, I got another opportunity from a director-friend who casted me for a role in the movie, ‘Emergency’ which focused on the plight of the Chibok Girls. Then, I was still living with my grandfather. After my SSS examinations, I started working at a beer parlour, where I was paid N8000 per month.

Not minding my meagre salary, I always stormed the Zenith hotel looking for a movie job. One day, luck smiled on me, when I met a guy who introduced me to Chinyere Wilfred, who employed me as her Personal Assistant and paid me N10,000 per month. That was how I started travelling with her to different states and getting roles in movies. But I was not fulfilled as I wanted to become a superstar. So, one Christmas period, I left for Port Harcourt to see my family, and ended up working as a Sales Representative for Techno. That was how I abandoned acting to chase money. But I returned to acting in 2022.

Travelling abroad and my stripper story

Four years ago, I planned to travel out of the country, but a friend aborted my dream by duping me the sum of N4.7million. She claimed that she was processing my visa after I sold my property and closed my shop in readiness to travel. I didn’t process my visa by myself.

She handled everything for me. When I got to the airport, I was told that my visa was fake, and was advised to contact my agent which I did. She then said it was the fault of the agent and asked me to join her in Cotonou. While in Cotonou, she told me that as a beautiful lady and a good dancer, I should consider travelling to Kenya to become a stripper. I told her that I wanted to become a star and not a stripper.

She told me I can never make it as an actress; rather, my destiny was in the fashion business, that I was just wasting my time. At that point, I asked her concerning the travelling expenses to Kenya and she said N200,000. I transferred the money I made from the pedicure business to her. But later, it dawned on me that she was the person that duped me of N4.7 million as she blocked me from reaching her till date. I still haven’t recovered from the shock.

After that horrible experience, I was bankrupt and homeless. I started squatting with friends, instead of returning to Port-Harcourt. I moved into an apartment in Lagos, where I was paying weekly rents. But being a professional pedicurist, I went back to my pedicure business and started making money again. Later, I travelled to Kenya, and through the help of a friend over there, I was able to stabilize, made some money and returned to Nigeria. I then enrolled in a film academy in Lagos, rented an apartment and since then, life has been good to me. My experience has taught me never to trust anybody or open up to anyone no matter who the person is in my life. It has also taught me never to believe that anyone can help me.

Off screen, I am a crazy kind of girl and at the same time a responsible person. I am not a saint, I have seen life. But I noticed that a lot of producers prefer giving me the role of a bad girl in movies such as drug lord, seduction and carrying guns in movies because of my physical appearance. I have a very sexy body and eyes. Sometimes, I’d play the role of a good girl but the bad girl role has overshadowed all of that.

Sexual harassment in movie industry

I didn’t experience sexual harassment because of the way I joined the movie industry. As a personal assistant to Chinyere Wilfred, I was getting movie roles at random. My craft speaks volumes for me, and when they approach me, they do it politely. And it is my duty to say yes or no.

My life experiences affecting my love life

Relationships do not favour me. I have ended up being hurt badly in love. I am a lover girl. I love genuinely, your pain is my pain. But right now, my career comes first before any other thing. I just want to make money and take care of my family and myself. I don’t even know if I am going to get married.

For love or for money

I’d go for love, but men don’t appreciate me. I wash, cook and clean my man’s apartment just to make him feel like a king. But what I get in return is scorn. No man has ever appreciated me apart from my father and my ex-boyfriend, who was worshiping the ground I walked on. I parted ways with him because of the fact that he was not interested in my career.

More so, he was low-minded in nature as he believes that if he spoils you with gifts, he has done everything for you. But that was not what I wanted. I want to be a global star and one of the biggest actresses to come out of Africa. I don’t need a man with a low mentality. That was how I broke up with him. In all, what I lost in love, I have not only gained in my career, but also, in making money.

Returning to acting

Since I relocated to Lagos two years ago, my career has grown in leaps and bounds. I have worked for different productions. Many directors have told me that I am a promising star. So, I know I am on the right path. I produced my own short movies, acted alongside top Nollywood actors and played lead characters along the line.

VANGUARD

Entertainment

Regina Daniels And Angela Okorie’s Cold War Deepens

Published

5 days ago

June 8, 2025

Editor

The silent cold war between two Nollywood divas, Angela Okorie and Regina Daniels, finally came to the fore days back, but what shocked many was the sheer bluntness with which Okorie aired her grievances.

For months, rumblings of tension between the actresses had circulated in close Nollywood circles. But on Instagram this week, Okorie finally made her feelings public, firing off a volley of pointed words at her younger colleague, Regina Daniels.

It all began when Regina posted what many initially saw as a subtle, dignified note urging Angela to forgive and move on from old grievances. But those close to the drama knew the post wasn’t as innocent as it seemed. In the message, Regina made a pointed reference to Angela’s child — “wey gidigba” — a choice of words Angela found deeply patronising.

And then the gloves came off.

Angela, not one to mince words, took to her Instagram Stories in a fiery tirade that quickly went viral. “You feel because you married a grandpa you can talk to me?” she blasted, referring to Regina’s high-profile marriage to billionaire Senator Ned Nwoko. “Marrying an older man does not give you the licence to disrespect your elders,” Angela added.

The Nollywood community was left stunned, not only by the sharpness of Angela’s words but also by the underlying history she unveiled. In another post, she reminded Regina of humbler days, when the young actress reportedly visited Angela’s home with deference.

“You are like a child to me… you used to come to my house with so much respect,” Angela wrote, a subtle reminder of a former mentorship or camaraderie between them.

The older actress didn’t stop there. In her posts, she openly questioned Regina’s upbringing and sense of propriety: “Me I just think say every young girl wey go school suppose get sense, especially a child with proper home training.”

But despite her anger, Angela was careful to draw a boundary regarding Regina’s powerful husband.

“No disrespect to your husband,” she wrote, before adding another sting: “You just won’t stop embarrassing Nigerians from time to time with you and your old man.”

In one of the sharpest moments of her tirade, Angela issued a direct and final warning to her younger colleague: “If you insult me again, I will remind you what you have forgotten. Last warning, Regina Daniels.”

Within Nollywood’s closely watched social media circles, Angela’s outburst has triggered a wave of speculation. Was this an isolated reaction or the surfacing of long-simmering resentment? Industry insiders suggest this may not be the end of the spat.

As of the time of filing this report, Regina Daniels has remained silent, with no official response to Angela’s public lashing.

Entertainment

MC Oluomo: ‘I’m Going To Court’, Aisha Blows Hot On Venza Gift Allegation

Published

6 days ago

June 7, 2025

Editor

Nollywood actress, Aisha Lawal, has denied claims that she received a Toyota Venza from National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader, Musiliyu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.

Describing the claim as false and defamatory, Lawal vowed to take legal action against the individual responsible for the allegations, declaring, “I’m going to court.”

Speaking during an appearance on the Talk To B podcast, the actress addressed the viral accusation, stating that she drives a Lexus GX 460 and has never received a car gift from MC Oluomo or anyone else.

“One man, an adult, I wondered if it was a setup or if he smoked weed, he sat and set a camera and said MC Oluomo collected a blue Venza from him and gave it to me. I didn’t collect any car. Why would I die mysteriously when I didn’t eat mysteriously?” she questioned.

Lawal expressed disbelief over the video, revealing she only watched it after hearing her name in a disturbing prayer.

“I didn’t watch that video until I heard the prayer where he said, ‘Aisha Lawal, I’m the owner of that blue Venza with you.’”

Firmly distancing herself from the allegations, she said, “I have suffered in the past. Put some respect on my name. I’ve never even driven a Venza. I drive a GX 460, and my shop is like the fourth or fifth building I’ve built.”

Recounting her personal journey, Lawal explained how hard she has worked over the years and how such defamatory claims undermine her efforts.

“COVID era was a turning point in my life. In a week or two, I made 10 million naira. That was during my first pregnancy. Maybe the same day you went to pay for an IVF that didn’t work out, someone saw you at a filling station and asked for money. If you didn’t laugh, they’d say you’re proud.

“Do you know what I’m going through? Someone even said, ‘You didn’t choose children, you chose money.’”

Sharing her early struggles, the actress added, “My dad acted like he didn’t give birth the first life he came. I started driving at the age of 16. They taught me so well I could even change a tyre. I drove my dad for a year. That roundabout at Adeoyo, a trailer once ran into me—I had to match brake.”

“I used to take night buses from Odogwu to Aba, wearing a nose mask and face cap. People saw me then but didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to pay for a hotel, so I took night buses.

“I even entered vehicles transporting fowls from Aba to Ibadan, sometimes to Ijebu Ode, before I started going to China.”

Determined to clear her name, Lawal emphasised, “I cannot study Law for seven years and not go all the way to court. He should get a good lawyer.”

Entertainment

Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees In Nigeria Again

Published

1 week ago

June 4, 2025

Editor

Streaming giant, Netflix, has increased subscription prices in Nigeria for the third time in less than a year.

This most recent rise is the first one for 2025.

Updates on the company’s website seen by PUNCH Online show the new pricing.

Under the new price, Netflix’s Premium plan now costs ₦8,500 a month, up from ₦7,000.

The Standard plan jumped to ₦6,500 from ₦5,500.

The Basic plan rose to ₦4,000 from ₦3,500, and the Mobile plan is for ₦2,500, up from ₦2,200.

This follows two earlier price hikes by Netflix in April and July 2024.

The Nigerians’ new round of economic pang
Nigeria currently faces challenges of rising living expenses, a falling naira, and record inflation.

This follows the recent hike in tariffs by Nigerian telecom providers by as much as 50 per cent.

The parent company of DStv and GOtv, MultiChoice, announced new prices that took effect on March 1, 2025.

MultiChoice announced that the price of the DStv Compact bouquet was increased from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000, reflecting a 25 per cent increase.

The price of the Compact Plus package increased from ₦25,000 to ₦30,000, and the premium DStv package saw a rise from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500.

For GOtv subscribers, the Jinja package increased from ₦3,600 to ₦3,900, and Jolli from ₦4,850 to ₦5,800. The GOtv Max plan rose to ₦8,500 from ₦7,200, Supa climbed to ₦11,400 from ₦9,600, and Supa Plus increased to ₦16,800, up from ₦15,700.

Netflix has yet to release an official statement.