 |
| Image: Google |
Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has revealed that she lost some of her Christian fans after publicly disclosing that she is a Muslim, saying she had kept her faith private for a long time because of concerns about how it could affect her career.
The actress made the disclosure during an interview with media personality Chude Jidenowo, where she opened up about her religious identity and the experience of publicly discussing her faith.
Ade said she had previously been reluctant to openly identify as a Muslim because of what she described as the nature of the Nigerian film industry.
According to the actress, she believed publicly declaring her faith could expose her to criticism or affect how some people in the industry and among her audience perceived her.
She alleged that being openly Muslim in Nollywood was “almost forbidden”, adding that she had observed that people could be looked down upon for publicly identifying with Islam.
“In my line of work, it is almost forbidden for you to publicly say you are a Muslim. You could be looked down upon for doing that. It is just something that I noticed,” she said.
Why Adunni Ade Kept Her Faith Private
The actress explained that her decision to eventually speak publicly about her religion was partly influenced by her frustration with keeping an important part of her identity private.
Ade said she had attended different churches in the past and stressed that her decision to embrace Islam was based on what she personally believed worked for her.
She also clarified that her comments should not be interpreted as an attack on Christianity or Christians.
“Islam for me, is not all about outward look. It is what is within. How you treat others,” she said.
The actress added, “I came out publicly with my religion because I was tired of keeping it a secret. I have been to different churches. I am not saying Christianity is not a good religion. It is not for me to say. I am just saying what works for me, is Islam.”
Fans Reacted To Her Disclosure
Ade revealed that her decision to speak openly about her Muslim faith came with consequences on social media.
According to her, some of her fans unfollowed her after she disclosed her religious identity, while others sent her private messages expressing their views about her decision.
She said some people attempted to pray for her, while others sent messages that she interpreted as efforts to remove what they believed was a spiritual influence from her.
“And I lost some fans for revealing that I am a Muslim. They unfollowed me. Some people even came to my DMs to bit out whatever spirit they thought was within me. Some were praying for me,” she said.
Ade, however, noted that the reaction was not entirely negative, as many Muslims also reached out to welcome and support her after she made her faith public.
“A lot of Muslims embraced me,” she added.
‘It Is Just What Works For Me’
Despite losing some followers, Ade said she was not overly concerned about the reaction to her religious identity.
The actress maintained that her decision was personal and that she was more interested in being open about what she believed rather than allowing public opinion to determine how she identified herself.
“But I really don’t care about that. It is just for me and what works for me,” she said.
Her comments have renewed discussions about religious identity, personal convictions and the pressures public figures can face when they disclose aspects of their private lives.
Ade’s experience also highlights the complexities celebrities may encounter when personal beliefs become part of public conversation, particularly in an industry followed by audiences with different religious and cultural backgrounds.
While some fans may have chosen to distance themselves from the actress following her disclosure, others welcomed her openness and expressed support.
For Ade, however, publicly identifying as a Muslim represents a decision to stop hiding an important part of herself and to embrace the faith she says works for her.
#AdunniAde
#NollywoodTimes
#CelebrityNews
No comments:
Post a Comment