Uche Ogbodo

Actress, Uche Ogbodo, had complained during the week that she wished she was a ‘star in America’ because in Nigeria, fans often demanded for giveaways before they ‘liked’ the pictures of celebs. In an interview with Saturday Beats, the actress insisted that it was wrong for fans to hold celebs to ransom for giveaways. She said, “Nigerian fans (I don’t know if it also happens in other parts of the world) think that all one’s years of hard work (should be for their sakes). Some have even taken it (begging for giveaways) as a business on social media. Some fans would even say that if one doesn’t do giveaways, they wouldn’t follow one on Instagram. However, there are many things that celebrities bring to the table. There are many ways celebs can give back to society other than coming on Instagram to share money. I do share money sometimes when I’m moved to do so. I have given out phones, clothes and other things on social media. But there is no compulsion that celebs must do giveaways all the time. Anybody that wants to follow me (on social media) should do that based on admiration for me and my work and not because of the money I have to share.”

Reacting to Nigerian celebs that solicit for giveaways on the social media pages of foreign stars, Ogbodo said, “It is crazy. I have never done it and I don’t even know that things like that happen. I only follow the Hollywood stars that I admire and I have never gone on their pages to solicit for anything. It is an insult for Nigerian celebs to jostle for giveaways from their foreign counterparts. I think it is really stupid.”

The actress, who is known to be an advocate for ‘body positivity’ also told our correspondent that it had been difficult for her to stay in shape for some time. She said, “It hasn’t been easy for me. It isn’t even the lockdown (alone) that has affected me. I have been going through some personal health issues that have made me not to work-out so much. In recent times, I have gained some weight. It’s not easy keeping in shape with everything I’m going through. There are some medications I’m taking, such as steroids, that are making me fat. I’m getting better but I’m not there yet. For now, I work-out at home.”

Ogbodo dismissed insinuations that her ailment was linked to COVID-19. She said, “Could I have been suffering from COVID-19 since September 2019 and I wouldn’t be dead yet?”