Jide Awobona criticises actors who mock colleagues online, urging Nollywood creatives to avoid trolling and protect one another’s reputation
Nollywood actor Jide Awobona has criticised some members of the acting community for publicly mocking and shading fellow creatives, describing the trend as disappointing and harmful to the industry.
Awobona expressed his concerns in a post shared on his Instagram page, where he questioned why some actors join online comment sections to ridicule or attack their colleagues.
The actor said he finds it troubling that people within the creative industry sometimes participate in spreading negative comments about others, especially when they lack accurate information about the situations involved.
“I’m always amazed when people who call themselves actors jump into comment sections to shade or mock other actors/creatives at large,” Awobona wrote.
He also accused some individuals of spreading unverified stories and sending such claims to blogs in an attempt to damage the reputation of fellow entertainers.
According to him, public trolling among creatives is particularly concerning because actors understand the challenges, sacrifices and emotional demands that come with the profession.
Jide Awobona criticises actors who engage in online attacks, stressing that professionals in the industry should focus on encouraging rather than tearing each other down.
“It’s bad enough that some of them gossip and even fabricate stories when they don’t have the facts, all in the attempt to tarnish someone’s image out of envy or spite,” he said.
The actor added that openly joining online criticism was the aspect he found most disturbing, urging entertainers to show greater understanding and respect for one another.
“As creatives, we should understand the work, the sacrifices, the emotions, and the mental health this profession demands,” Awobona stated.
He maintained that constant criticism of colleagues does not reflect the values expected from members of the creative community.
“If your contributions are constantly tearing down your colleagues, you’re not acting like a creative. You’re behaving like an audience member, a fan, a hater, or a troll,” he added.
Awobona’s comments come amid ongoing conversations within Nollywood about online behaviour, professional support and the impact of social media criticism on entertainers’ personal and professional lives.