Popular Nigerian actress Ini Edo has opened up about the pressure she faced from the media to sell stories.
In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, she revealed how she once confronted a male publisher whose magazine had repeatedly published false stories about her.
Edo said she went to the publisher’s office to ask if she had done anything to offend him, but he told her that they would create a story if they couldn’t find anything true to report.
“He said, ‘Ini there are so many of your colleagues that if we put their stories out, people are not interested. You sell our newspaper. So if I can’t find something on you…if I put you on my cover today, I sell out and that’s my business,'” she recalled.
Edo said she was initially upset by the publisher’s comments, but she eventually realized that suing him would be pointless.
“It was at that point that I said, you know what, it’s your hustle, it’s not about me,” she said. “I realised that trying to sue this one, trying to sue that one was draining me, taking my energy, distracting me.”
The actress said she decided to focus on her career instead of worrying about what the media said about her. “The jobs and endorsements kept coming and I’m like, if you guys want to peg me as a sex symbol just to sell your papers and I’m still getting my jobs and endorsements, be my guest,” she said.
Edo’s story is a reminder of the challenges that celebrities face when their personal lives are constantly under public scrutiny.
However, her decision to focus on her career and ignore the negative press is an inspiration to anyone who has ever been the target of unfair or inaccurate media coverage.
In addition to her acting career, Edo is also a successful businesswoman. She has her own production company and a line of beauty products. She is also a philanthropist and works with several charities to help children in need.
