Entertainment
‘Forgive me, I’m gradually losing my life’, Adanma Luke pleads with Nigerians over Junior Pope’s death
Nollywood actress and producer, Adanma Luke, has appealed for forgiveness from Nigerians over the tragic boat accident that resulted in the deaths of actor John Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, and four others.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Monday, Luke, who was the producer of the movie titled “The Other Side of Life,” in which the crew were starring before their demise, stated that she has been depressed since the incident happened in April.
She added that she’s gradually losing her life and is in need of prayers.
Acknowledging the criticism she has faced online since the incident, she said, “I’m just here to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Nigerians. I’m sorry I took away your loved ones from-what people are saying.
“I’m very sad. Inasmuch as I try to be strong, I don’t see myself strong. I’m so sad that this had to happen on my set. I’m sad that they had to work for me at that particular time. I’m not God. It has been destined to happen, it is meant to happen, but why me?
“I never liked the internet drama, but this whole thing put me out there. A lot of people have been dragging me; some have been calling me, ‘Ada, don’t talk. Let this die; don’t talk’. But I go through a lot.”
Luke explained that she had been struggling with depression and has been unable to work or reach out to people for jobs since the incident.
She added, “I did not even know what depression was until this incident happened. I’m gradually losing my life. I’m regretting a lot of things. I don’t even know how to call people for jobs.
“People are even saying I went on vacation, I’m here for business. I’ve been indoors doing nothing and yet still catering to the families that lost their loved ones. Where do you people expect me to get all the money from? I need to work.
“I go through so much. I’m trying to heal, but it’s not coming back. We all loved JP, and we all loved the other people who also lost their lives, my crew members.
“My friends want me to get my sanity back, but I’m not seeing myself doing all that. I believe that if anything happens to me now, everybody will rest. I didn’t do it on purpose. God, why me? Please, Nigerians, I’m sorry. You don’t know what I’m going through.”
The actress also delved into the circumstances surrounding the boat accident, stating that she had requested a better location to shoot the movie and was assured by her team that the area was safe.
“I haven’t visited Asaba in the past two years until that incident. I asked for a better location to shoot that movie, and they took me there,” she said.
“The first time I went there before the main shooting, I asked why they weren’t providing life jackets. Then my PM told me that is how they do it there—that a lot of people have been crossing and nothing is happening. They’ve been shooting there; I wasn’t the first person to shoot a movie there; they shoot there all the time. I wasn’t even filming on the water; it was a means of transportation to the place,” she added.
𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞: '𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞', 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐚 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) August 26, 2024
Nollywood actress and producer, Adanma Luke, has appealed for forgiveness from Nigerians over the tragic boat… pic.twitter.com/RfWFKpefFK
Entertainment
Bimpe Akintunde warns Nigerians against scammers impersonating her on WhatsApp
Bimpe Akintunde, the Nollywood actress, has raised an alarm over a fake WhatsApp account created in her name to scam unsuspecting individuals.
The film star took to her Instagram story to share screenshots of the impersonator, posing as her to solicit money from her followers.
Akintunde expressed her frustration and disappointment, cursing the scammer for attempting to profit from her hard work. She warned the public to be cautious of the impersonator on any media platform.
The actress urged her fans to help report the scammer’s WhatsApp and bank accounts.
She also prayed that God should keep such fraudulent individuals away from her and her loved ones.
“What a morning. Tell me how this country wants to be great, when a lot of people are struggling, working hard to build a name and brand, and boom, one person will take their pictures and name only to be defrauding people up and down,” she wrote.
“Who gave birth to such a child? Useless children, may God keep them away from us.
“Please disregard any message from anyone, either in your DM or WhatsApp, asking you to send money.
“Please, it not me. I do not own this above number. I would appreciate it if we could find a way to report both the WhatsApp and the Opay account.”
Entertainment
Davido advises black Americans not to relocate to Nigeria, says ‘the economy is in shambles’
Davido, the Afrobeats star, has advised black Americans against relocating to Nigeria, citing the country’s economic challenges.
In an appearance on The Big Homies House podcast, the singer shared his thoughts on the struggles bedeviling Nigeria, stating, “It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles”.
Davido also mentioned Nigeria’s struggles with bad leadership, a high exchange rate, and skyrocketing oil prices, which are negatively impacting the country.
“It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles. I do my part, I am an ambassador. When I go home and I am filming, I am no going to show the bad parts,” he said.
“I am talking about the situation in the country. Now the exchange rate is messed up, a lot of stuffs are not going well.
“The economy is just not good enough. The oil price is too high. Imagine the country that produces oil, paying more for it than a country importing oil.”
Despite the challenges, Davido emphasised the entertainment industry’s positive impact on Africa’s global image.
“Regardless, entertainment is one of the thing that has made Africa look good. We do not have the best leader, that is a fact,” he said.
Entertainment
US actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction for staged attack overturned
American actor, Jussie Smollett’s conviction for fabricating a racist and homophobic hate crime in Chicago in 2019 was overturned Thursday on due process grounds.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Smollett, 42, should not have been charged again by prosecutors after a prior agreement saw over a dozen original charges dismissed.
It is the latest twist in Smollett’s legal saga, which began with his initial claim in January 2019 that he had been attacked on a Chicago street.
The gay African-American actor, then a cast member of the hit TV series “Empire,” said two masked men assaulted him late at night, shouting slurs and placing a noose around his neck.
Smollett staged the attack after receiving a legitimate piece of hate mail which he felt was not taken seriously by his employers, prosecutors said.
But those charges were suddenly dropped in March 2019, under an arrangement in which Smollett forfeited his $10,000 bond and agreed to do community service.
The dismissal was met with anger by some city officials, including then-mayor Rahm Emanuel, who argued $10,000 was only a fraction of the actual investigation costs.
A special prosecutor eventually took over the case and several charges were reinstated.
Smollett, who has always maintained his innocence, was found guilty in December 2021.
Though he was sentenced to 150 days in prison with 30 months on probation, he was released pending the outcome of his appeal.
He was also ordered to repay $120,106 to the Chicago Police to cover their investigation costs.
The case had initially sent shock waves through a deeply divided country still plagued by racial and sexual discrimination, and the actor had immediately received support from celebrities in political and cultural circles.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruling said that bringing the charges a second time after “the defendant has performed his part of the bargain” represented “a due process violation.”
“We therefore reverse (the) defendant’s conviction,” the ruling said.
-
Politics1 week ago
Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards
-
Business4 days ago
Lagos state government to commence upgrade of major junctions in Ikeja axis, seeks residents’ cooperation
-
Politics6 days ago
DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber
-
Celebrities7 days ago
Daddy Freeze, Akah Nnani clash over Emmanuel Iren
-
News6 days ago
Nnamdi Emeh: Suspect Facing Charges In Court, Process Independent Of Police Influence
-
News6 days ago
Alice Loksha, abducted UNICEF nurse, escapes captivity after 6 years
-
World1 week ago
French newspapers sue X for using content without paying
-
Health6 days ago
Five ways to rid your home of ants