Jaiye Kuti Laments Lack Of Support From Nollywood Colleagues

Nollywood actress Jaiye Kuti has raised concerns over what she described as the declining spirit of unity and support within the Nigerian film industry, lamenting that many actors and filmmakers fail to stand by one another during challenging moments.

According to Ireporter Online, the actress made the remarks during an interview on the Oyinmomo podcast, where she expressed disappointment over what she sees as a culture of silence among industry practitioners. She noted that although many professionals face similar challenges, they often pretend everything is fine instead of speaking openly about their experiences.

Kuti explained that this attitude is gradually weakening relationships within Nollywood and making collaboration increasingly difficult. She stressed that producing movies requires significant financial investment, adding that many people are unaware of the immense pressure filmmakers face in recovering production and distribution costs, particularly after releasing films in cinemas.

The actress further stated that while the public often admires celebrities based on their social media presence, the reality behind the scenes is far different, with many entertainers silently battling personal and professional struggles.

Reflecting on her own experience, Kuti recalled the disappointment she felt when some cinemas removed her movie from their schedules. She revealed that despite publicly speaking out about the issue, none of her colleagues came to her defence, even though many of them had encountered similar setbacks in the past.

She also expressed frustration over what she described as superficial relationships within the industry, noting that while colleagues readily send birthday wishes, they are often absent when genuine support is needed. According to her, the experience led her to stop celebrating others’ birthdays, saying she no longer expects or desires such gestures from fellow actors.

Kuti maintained that the industry must embrace greater honesty, empathy and solidarity if it hopes to overcome the challenges confronting filmmakers and strengthen professional relationships among its members.