Angel Unigwe’s team has replied to charges made by renowned actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, who accused Angel of professional misbehaviour.
Kanayo had threatened to ruin her future endeavours after alleging that she had breached her contract with him.
However, Unigwe’s manager, Chief Juliet Kings, responded with a strongly worded letter rejecting the charges and outlining the events surrounding the film production in issue.
Kings slammed Kanayo’s charges as “false, unfounded, and slanderous” and urged the actor to be professional. “It therefore came as a rude shock to learn of and, more importantly, watch and listen to the false, unfounded, and slanderous statements attributed to Mr Kanayo in the video in question, calling into question our professional ethics and, more importantly, threatening Miss Unigwe’s very safety and right to dignity by threatening to disrupt and cause chaos on any set where she intends to work.”
These statements and threats, which were circulated via video and social media platforms, are comparable to cyberbullying; they are completely false and have caused substantial emotional anguish to Angel and myself,” the statement states in part.
According to Kings, Unigwe engaged in the production on clear and agreed-upon terms, including a daily wrap time of 9 p.m., and despite worries about the feasibility of filming 57 scenes in three days, they went ahead based on assurances from Kanayo and director.
What they’re saying
“As a foundation to the events that led to this, Miss Unigwe worked on a film project between June 17th and June 19th, 2024, under explicit and agreed-upon terms, the most essential of which was a daily wrap time of 9 pm.
“Despite our concerns about the feasibility of filming fifty-seven (57) scenes in three (3) days, we proceeded based on the assurances we received from Mr Kanayo O. Kanayo and his director, in person of Ndifreke Matthew, that the three days period will be sufficient for shooting and that the talent’s shooting time of 12 hours starting from 9 am to 9 pm is acceptable to them, moreso there will be no extension considering her prior engagement,”
“Upon completion of the shoot, we left the location without protest from the director or the production manager Mr Cosmos Nwaihe, having performed our obligations.” The manager also cited the episode as an example of gender-based persecution in the sector.
“This case underscores a bigger issue of gender-based oppression, as we have received insulting and defamatory remarks merely for standing firm and insisting on compliance with the terms of the agreement that all parties willingly engaged into.
“It is disheartening to see such behaviour in an industry that should be built on mutual respect and professionalism and even more shocking from an individual who we hold in high esteem and is considered a veteran of the industry”.
