Toyin Abraham was hospitalized due to the online leak of her N500 million movie
Toyin Abraham, an acclaimed Nollywood actress, disclosed that she experienced panic attacks leading to her hospitalization due to the unauthorized dissemination of her latest movie, Malaika.
The high-budget film had an exclusive cinema release on December 15, 2023.
Abraham, who shared her distress after unexpectedly coming across the movie on a social media platform, expressed how the situation almost drove her to madness.
Addressing reporters at the Federal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force in Alagbon, Ikoyi, on Wednesday, where individuals arrested in connection with the illicit distribution of the movie were showcased, the actress lamented the ordeal of investing close to N500 million in a film only to witness its unauthorized release to the public.
She expressed, "If you observe me closely, you'll realize that I am genuinely not in a good state. I had to leave the hospital. I've been grappling with panic attacks. It's emotionally challenging to invest in a movie worth nearly N500 million and then see it leaked.
"I witnessed my movie alongside another one, and I questioned if it was a dream. They assured me it wasn't. Suddenly, they shared it on Telegram, announcing they would upload it by 12 pm. I clicked the link, saw Malaika, and it felt like I was losing my sanity; it seemed as if my entire world was crumbling before my eyes."
"As a woman, tears were streaming down my face, and my manager reassured me, saying, 'Don't worry.' He immediately began reaching out to my godparents, my husband, and the Filmone team. We initiated calls to tech experts and strategized on how to reach out to Google. They contacted Telegram, and soon after, they commenced the process of disabling the links. Google also sent us emails confirming the successful removal of the links."
Abraham recounted her desperation, reaching a point where she had to plead with one of the culprits on Telegram. She expressed astonishment, stating, "One of those individuals had the audacity to instruct me to send an email, and I thought, 'On my own film!'
Feeling at a loss, she shared, "I'm at a loss about what to do; this is my life, my sole pursuit. That's why, together with my manager and Filmone, I took it upon ourselves to combat piracy. It's not just about me or Malaika, not about any specific cinema release, not about ethnicity, but about the creative industry. It's about the entertainment sector because this is our livelihood."
The actress further disclosed substantial financial losses resulting from the situation, as audiences chose to postpone watching the movie until it became available online for free.
"I've incurred significant losses because, even on social media, you come across individuals saying they won't go to the cinema; they'll wait for the movie to be released online. Even fans from overseas mention they're anticipating the free release. Clearly, those waiting for such an occurrence won't be watching the movie. Nevertheless, I'm coping well. It's not about the money at this point; it's about championing a cause for the entertainment and creative industry, which I find fulfilling," she remarked.
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