‘Jenifa’s Diary’ Actress, Toyosi, Talks Underpayment, Losing Virginity at 17, Sexual Assault
Months after news that she left Funke Akindele’s comic series ‘Jenifa’ because she was poorly paid for her role, Juliana Olayode finally confirms the story to be true.
The 22-year-old actress, who rose to fame as ‘Toyo baby’ in the comedy series, is set to drop her memoir ‘Rebirth’ in which she told gripping stories, including how she lost her virginity to her teacher at 17, the sexual assault she endured at the hands of her priest, the confirmation that she was grossly underpaid during her time with Funke Akindele, and more.
On her experience with Funke Akindele, the actress said she took up ushering jobs at weddings and concert to survive because the pay from her major role in the series was not enough.”
“The pay for decent ushering jobs was as low as Five thousand Naira per job but for me it was worth it,” she said in her book but without giving figures of the amount she was paid in the comic. She added, “My mum was concerned for me, wondering why I would be on TV and still be going for such cheap jobs.
On losing her virginity at the age of 17, the actress revealed it was with a teacher who promised her marriage. The event took place at a cheap hotel. She remembers it all, the dank smell, the pain, her cries, and the shock that followed afterwards: she did not see blood and was outraged.
“It was a painful experience for me,” she said, “I cried at different points and he kept apologising, begging me to keep my voice down lest they think he was raping me. He told me to relax and bear the pain. In his words, “do not be a weak woman”. That got at me because I hated feeling or being treated as weak.”
And on how she was sexually assaulted by her priest, she evaded him after he got her undressed and proceeded to rob her body with oil
“He wanted to wash away the dirty water that was poured on me in my dream,” she wrote. However when he began to rub her body with oil, reaching for her crotch, she refused him. She said: “It was then my eyes were opened and I knew what this man was trying to do to me. I got upset, took my bag and left immediately.”
Her revelations has stirred major reactions on social media. While some people commiserate with her, others have criticised her past. In response, the actress remained undaunted and had some words for trolls.
“Some people hardly change: they are already criticising my book without reading it,” she said, adding, “I feel very fulfilled.”
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