October 27, (THEWILL) – Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing, has tendered an apology to Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association Of Nigeria, TAMPAN, the umbrella body of Yoruba actors and filmmakers in Nigeria, over her May 2021 social media spat with her colleague, Adams Kehinde aka Lege Miami, which resulted in their suspension.
TAMPAN suspended both actors indefinitely from appearing on Yoruba movie sets following their heated verbal exchange on Instagram after she and fellow actress, Iyabo Ojo, vocally criticised actor Baba Ijesha for defiling comedienne Princess’s daughter.
On 14 July 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Ikeja Special Offences Court convicted and sentenced the comic actor for raping a 14-year-old minor after over 12 months of trial.
In response, veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, barred directors from working with Nkechi and Iyabo Ojo, prompting Nkechi to mock the association’s decision.
At the Celebrities Entertainment Awards in Canada on Sunday, Blessing reconsidered her actions by publicly apologising to TAMPAN’s president, Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr Latin. She knelt on stage with a microphone, offering a heartfelt apology to the association amidst tears.
She said, “I’m so sorry for all that I did. I’m begging from the bottom of my heart that I miss the industry. You all made me who I am today. I am being celebrated all over the world because of you. Please, I’m sorry.”
In the same video, Odunlade Adekola praised her for apologising, and TAMPAN’s president, Mr Latin, also acknowledged her apology and forgave her, bringing a sense of resolution to the situation.
After the suspension was announced, Lege Miami appealed his suspension in a one-minute video captioned “I am sorry.”
Meanwhile, Blessing, in defiance, renounced her association with TAMPAN via an Instagram video.
In the Instagram video, the actor questioned the rationale behind her suspension and criticised the association.
She said, “It came as a shock to me because usually, in an organised organisation, you’re not supposed to serve anybody a letter on social media. I did not join the industry through social media; that is the number one error they wrote to themselves, not to me.
“You claim I’m one of your members in your association, you didn’t call me, you didn’t send a text, you didn’t send an email. You didn’t try contacting me in any way, and you put up whatever you put up on Instagram without even tagging me; some other person sent it to me; who does that?
Blessing added, “We all have the right to express our opinions on our platforms. How can you suspend me when I’ve never been a part of your association or attended your meetings?”
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
