Nollywood actress Peju Johnson has spoken out against what she described as the hypocrisy some Nigerians show toward romantic scenes in local movies.
The actress recently faced online backlash for a romance scene in her new movie, Right Thing, but told Saturday Beats that the criticism highlights a double standard.
Johnson argued that viewers often enjoy romantic content in foreign films, including South African productions, yet condemn similar scenes in Nigerian movies.
She said, “It feels awkward seeing people condemn that romance scene. This is a movie, for crying out loud. Some Nigerians are just hypocrites because they watch such scenes in movies from other countries, even those from South Africa, and they enjoy them. But when it comes to Nigerian movies, they always want to condemn you or call you names just because of that.”
Addressing whether the criticism affected her personally, Johnson stated that she remains unfazed.
“I don’t feel bad because I know I’m only doing my job. I’m even more decent than many of those condemning me over a romance scene. I am never going to let that one scene define who I truly am,” she said.
The actress also used the interview to highlight broader social issues addressed in her film, particularly about dishonesty in marriages. She noted that some gay men in Nigeria marry women without disclosing their sexuality, maintaining relationships with male partners during the marriage, and sometimes mistreating their wives.
Johnson urged honesty in such situations, emphasizing that not every woman can accept such circumstances.
Her comments have reignited conversations about cultural expectations, censorship, and the treatment of romance in Nigerian cinema.
About the Author
