In a recent interview with Pulse Nigeria, Omoni Oboli shared her sexual harassment experience. The actress said: “Sexual harassment is not peculiar to the entertainment industry. However, being in the limelight draws attention to the actions of individuals in the industry.
“Doctors proposition nurses, nurses proposition doctors. It happens in the banking industry, it happens everywhere,”
“Where there are men and women, someone will proposition the other. Somebody will think, ‘I’m in the position of power so I can ask for favors and the other person has no choice but to accept it because I have power over them.”
Like several other women in several other industries, Omoni has her own sexual harassment experience. However, that part of her life wasn’t published in her recently released book, The Stars are Ageless – a tell-all book about her life, marriage and career.
Addressing the decision to omit her story, the actress said, “I don’t have a strong story so to speak, because it could be read as the guy wasn’t really propositioning me.”
Omoni Oboli’s sexual harassment experience: In 1996, Oboli, who is now one of the most successful filmmakers in Nigeria, took a break from acting. She took a break to complete her education and then, take care of her family.
When she returned to the industry in 2009, it was difficult for her to find her way back in. She couldn’t land any role.
“Everyone had their place and nobody really wanted to give a new person a chance. It was such a struggle trying to get roles.”
That was when she got a call from a director, who was shooting a movie in Asaba and wanted her to come over. She was really surprised and excited.
“So I went to Asaba and he said I should come to his hotel. To be honest, I didn’t really think much of it because a lot of movies are shot in hotels.
People don’t have offices so they use hotels. So I went to the hotel. It was a big room and had a lounge area. I think maybe the living area was separate,” she said.
They sat down to talk about the script when the director, unexpectedly, asked her to kiss him. She was shocked and confused.
“I asked why. I think he saw my reaction because I was quite shocked – then he goes, ‘oh no, it’s part of the audition.”
Oboli asked him if he was her love interest in the movie. He says no, but adds that sharing a kiss with her is part of the audition.
“No, I can’t kiss you. Aside from the fact that I am married, I really don’t think it’s a good audition process. If you want me to read, I would read, and you can see if I am good enough for this character you have called me for, but I am not going to kiss you,” Oboli told the director.
The disappointed director said it was okay if she didn’t want to kiss him, and asked her to come on set the next day for a role. The next day, Oboli was on set where she spent her whole day. Unfortunately, she neither got a role nor an opportunity to showcase her talent.
After being on the set for two days without any positive result, Oboli decided to return to Lagos.
“I borrowed myself brain, entered a bus and went back to Lagos. Till today, I haven’t acted any film by that director.
“Yes, when there are men and women, you would be propositioned. It’s left for you to make the decision – no, I am not going to do this.”
The filmmaker believes that anyone who thinks that she is worth having a role, position or money, would give it to her without making her trade favours.
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