Genevieve Nnaji has been described as the most influential Nollywood actress in the 21st century.
She commenced her movie career in the mid to late 90s; however, she gained mainstream prominence in the 2000s. Dominating the Nigerian movie industry in the early to late 2000s, in the next decade, Nnaji would try her hand at scriptwriting, producing, and making her directional debut in the blockbuster film, Lionheart.
For every high that a celebrity experiences, there are often moments of squabble and torment. Genevieve Nnaji had to stay out of the limelight to battle her mental health ailment without the cameras and affection from fans across the globe.
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In this article, we will be looking at what transpired within Nnaji’s headspace in 2022.
How Did the Mental Health Controversy Commence?
According to reports, the actress had a mental breakdown from addiction to drugs.
It was alleged that the actress, Genevieve Nnaji, is suffering from a mental issue and has been seeking treatment in Houston, Texas, which is the reason for Genevieve Nnaji’s sudden disappearance from the social scene and social media.
According to the online platform, Gistlover, they claimed that the actress went into a mental breakdown and had her body tattooed with a blade.
The blog further claimed that her team members are trying to hide the news and were responsible for deleting all her Instagram posts.
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‘Mental Health Problems are More Spiritual than Physical’- Genevieve Nnaji
In March 2022, she took to the story section of the social media platform to air her opinion on mental health issues as she posted, “Mental health is more spiritual than it is physical. Rededicate your life to the God you serve. Get rebaptised.”
This statement further disclosed that the movie actress indeed underwent psychotherapy.
A few weeks after making the statement, Nnaji deleted all her photos and videos from her Instagram account. At the time, she had almost 10 million followers; hence, this action further caused major concerns among her fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry.
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Mindfulness and Recovery
It is important to note that till date, the leading Nigerian movie actress has never come out to address allegations of her drug addiction. Instead, Nnaji surreptitiously returned to social media then the movie industry.
In May 2022, Nnaji posted an Instagram story video of herself painting with the hashtag #mindfulness to counter the rumours.
Following her public return, Genevieve Nnaji has focused on high-profile international productions and continental filmmaking advocacy, steering clear of her previous isolation. Simultaneously, the broader Nollywood ecosystem continues to navigate how it portrays and advocates for mental health.
Equally, Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award.