Popular Nigerian actress and filmmaker Ini Edo has addressed concerns raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding her latest movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, making an emotional appeal to regulators not to have the film removed from cinemas.
The 43-year-old screen diva shared a video on her verified Instagram page, in which she pleaded with authorities.
“I’m just begging to say, please, I did take money from investors to do this film. If you pull it just because of the title, perhaps you should see the film. If it dishonors Christians in any way, if it dishonors God in any way, I will pull it,” Edo said.
“All I’m begging you, my fathers and my mothers; go and watch this film and see if it degrades Christians and God. If it does, I will pull it. But if it doesn’t, this is not,” she added.
Ini Edo explained that the title was intended as a metaphor to tell a story and provoke conversations, not to disrespect God, Christians, or religion.
The film, produced by the Akwa Ibom-born actress, attracted backlash from CAN, which described the title as offensive to the Christian faith.
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“Christmas is a sacred season that marks the birth of Jesus Christ and represents purity, peace, love, and redemption. Linking such a holy celebration with the word ‘dirty’ diminishes its spiritual meaning and reduces a solemn religious observance to something crude and sensational,” CAN stated.
Ini Edo, however, clarified that there were no objections raised when the movie title was chosen, adding that she would not have proceeded otherwise.
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“If I had any reservation from anywhere, we would not have used the title,” she said. “I would never have been a part of anything that I would have felt like it would dishonor God, because the only reason why I’m here is because of God.”
CAN has called on the producers and promoters of the film to reconsider the title, issue a public apology, and take steps to ensure that religious symbols and sacred seasons are treated with the respect they deserve.
The filmmaker, who is also Christian, apologized to anyone offended by the title, insisting there was no malicious intent.
“I’m so sorry. We will try to change the title,” she promised.
The regulator, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), clarified that the film was approved and classified after undergoing the established censorship and classification process, during which the Film Censorship Committee examined the work within its narrative and thematic context.
The board further assured the public that it remains guided by the provisions of the National Film and Video Censorship Committee, which allows it to order the withdrawal of a film from exhibition for further review when such action is deemed necessary in the public interest.
