Entertainment
My Skin Colour Almost Stopped Me From Becoming A Star -Mercy Johnson
Mercy Johnson – Okojie is a very popular Nigerian actress film producers literally fall over themselves to get her to star in their films, but her journey to stardom was not rosy as she recently revealed that her skin colour almost stopped her from becoming a Nollywood star.
In a recent interview, she revealed that when she joined Nollywood, directors and movie producers would refuse to cast dark skinned and talented actors in favour of their fair skinned colleagues.
“It is very true that when I was starting out in the movie industry, it was difficult to get roles because of my complexion. I faced a lot and I tell people that my success is just grace”, she said.
She maintained that most of her colleagues who suffered before as a result of this discrimination have also made it”. She said, “somebody once told me that I was too dark, but that was when the grace and favour of God cames in because my skin colour almost stopped my becoming a Nollywood star. Regardless of everything, most of the dark skinned actresses that are my contemporaries also made it”.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.