Why producers hate me: Nollywood actor Emeka Ike reveals

Emeka Ike is one of the actors who has been in the movie industry in Nigeria and still wields much influence.

In an interview with Nigerian Films, Emeka reveals why some movie producers and directors hate him in the industry. He said, his stand on not allowing up and coming actresses to be used for séx-for-movie roles has made him to be hated in the film industry in Nigeria.

  

“If you knock at their office and you can’t sleep with them, you won’t be allowed to act. Is it fair to tell a girl that ‘if I don’t sleep with you, you won’t get my favour?’ if God does that to us, where would we be today?

"They go to Ajao and they tell them open your legs, is that what we made the industry for?"

He added that, “This situation is a general norm. Ask the smallest artiste about my position on the situation. I have stopped productions severally because of this (sexual harassment). That’s why sometimes they get issues with me."

Emeka narrated an ugly incident he witnessed on a movie set, he said:

“There was a day I saw a girl crying at a corner of a movie set, her name is Esther. She is a make-up artiste now because she has stopped acting.

“I approached her and asked why she was crying. She was lamenting like a girl who has just lost her mother. She told me that ‘look at the girl going with my script, that ugly animal. The producer said if I can’t sleep with him, I can’t get the script.’

“She mentioned the name of the person. So because she can’t sleep with that man, she has to be marginalized, Kai! I have something against that. If a girl wants to sleep with you because you are a star or because she likes you, so be it. Don’t arm-twist someone, that is rape  Abroad, they will go to jail for even suggesting it to her...

“I gave the lady her artiste fee that day.

Go to Enugu and ask of Esther, the make-up artiste. She will tell you about this story. That is why they don’t like me.”