Nigerian actress Faithia Balogun has publicly expressed her frustration over what she claims is an attempt to sabotage the cinema release of her new movie, "Efunroye." In an online outburst on Friday, May 29, the Nollywood star alleged that cinemas are deliberately scheduling the film for late-night slots instead of daytime showings, significantly affecting audience turnout despite her substantial investment in the project.
Allegations of Unfair Scheduling
In a now-viral video, Balogun lamented that the timing has made it difficult for her fans and supporters to watch the movie, especially given the effort, planning, and financial resources she poured into bringing the historical drama to life. She emphasized that her concern extends beyond ticket sales to the visibility the film deserves after months of hard work by her and the cast.
The actress argued that assigning midnight slots to "Efunroye" is unfair because many movie lovers who genuinely want to see the film cannot conveniently attend cinemas at those hours. She also noted that the poor scheduling has hindered opportunities for the actors to meet fans and promote the movie physically.
Threat to Expose Responsible Parties
Balogun warned that if "Efunroye" is eventually removed from cinemas, she may grant an interview and publicly name the person she believes is behind the alleged sabotage. She is not the first Nollywood actress to raise such concerns; Legit.ng recalls that Toyin Abraham made similar allegations in December during the cinema run of her movie "Oversabi Aunty."
Public Reactions
Social media users have responded to Balogun's outburst with mixed opinions. Some commenters suggested that cinemas prioritize ticket sales and would not sabotage a profitable film. Others expressed sympathy, calling for a fair chance for the movie to succeed. Below are some reactions:
- @EmediongTG: "Actually, Cinemas don't sabotage movies, they only care about ticket sales. If a cinema keeps giving you midnight slots, it usually means your daytime shows were empty. Blaming people is just a distraction from low demand."
- @Memnefer: "They are giving Fathia Williams midnight showtimes because her movie is not selling and they are running at a loss. Next time she will stick to YouTube."
- @Beniwinn: "Midnight showtimes for a Nigerian movie is basically a silent burial if what she’s saying is true then somebody in that industry is seriously playing dirty. Why not just give the film a fair shot and let audience decide?"
- @mr_chiboi: "Omo this industry no dey ever simple … but at the same time, these are serious allegations that deserve proper clarity, not just emotions. Hopefully everything gets addressed the right way, because audiences just want fair access to the movie and a clean system overall."
Background on the Movie
Faithia Balogun had earlier promoted "Efunroye" on social media, praising the historical figure Efunroye Tinubu as more than just a warrior but also a ruler who rewrote history. The film has sparked some backlash online, but Balogun remains determined to see it succeed.
