Mercy Aigbe recounts her sexual harassment ordeal in Nollywood

Mercy Aigbe has recalled how she nearly quit being an actress over sexual harassment. 

Speaking in a recent interview with TVC, Aigbe narrated how she had auditioned for a role with a producer who offered her a minor role instead of what she had auditioned for.

The film star said when she inquired why she was not picked for the role she had originally wanted, the producer said she needed to be close to him.

Aigbe said the producer thereafter tried “to touch me. I was like, calm down. Sir, you cannot do this to me”.

“So we used to gather at Surulere. And I met this producer, and I am like, ‘Oh, sir, I am talented, and that is why I am here.’ And he said he has an upcoming movie. And then, I should come to his office for auditioning,” she said.

“I went to audition. I passed three stages of the audition. After the last audition, I was given a minor role. I told him that was not the character I was auditioning for, and he replied that the director said he did not know me, and that was why he said I should be close to him (the producer).

“He had been making passes at me, but he did not come out straight until that day. And then he stood up, and he was trying to touch me. I was like, calm down. Sir, you cannot do this to me. I earned this role.

“Okay, I am not doing this. I do not want to be part of this production anymore. It was a huge insult to my person. I just carried the thing, and I tore it. I said you know what? If this is what it takes to be an actress, I do not want to be an actress anymore.”

Aigbe earlier opened up about why she converted from Christianity to Islam.