Nollywood actor Emeka Okoye has alleged that film producers in the Nigerian movie industry have repeatedly denied him roles because of his body size.
Speaking during an interview with Seun Oloketuyi on Nollywood On Radio, Okoye opened up about his struggles in the industry, saying he has faced rejection both when he was slim and now that he has become chubbier.
“I’ve been told that I am fat, and I have lost movie roles because of that. Some say that I won’t fit a character because I have a stomach or I’m not fine,” he revealed.
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The actor recounted that earlier in his career, producers used him to audition other actors but rarely offered him parts, claiming he didn’t fit the physical description of their characters.
“When I was younger and slimmer, I still didn’t get roles. Many producers would use me to audition people and say I was good, but they didn’t have a role that fit me because I was too slim. I had that experience many times. Bukky Thomas can testify,” he said.
Okoye added that as his physique changed over time, so did the kind of roles he was offered. “Now that I am a bit chubby, they are giving me roles like landlord, husband, or uncle. Some even stopped giving me ‘bad boy’ roles because they assume I won’t be able to interpret the character,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Okoye noted that audiences would soon see his versatility in upcoming projects, saying, “They will be shocked when they see my new movies.”
His revelation has sparked conversations online about body image bias in Nollywood, with many fans calling for fairer casting practices based on talent rather than appearance.
