Nollywood veteran Hanks Anuku has shared the devastating impact a viral video falsely portraying him as mentally unstable had on his career and mental health.
A disturbing video showing Anuku dressed in tattered clothes and appearing to talk to himself surfaced online in 2022, sparking speculations about his mental state. Despite a disclaimer from his colleague Shan George, many, including filmmaker Adanma Luke, insisted that Anuku was mentally unstable, prompting the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to launch an investigation.
Addressing the incident for the first time in a chat with content creator Lucky Udu, Anuku revealed that the video was from a movie set. He explained:
“I was trying to get into character for a role I was going to play, a madman role. Someone who was not in his correct senses or right frame of mind. So I had to go naturally visit the environment on how I would play it in that same neighborhood. I was just showing the way the director wanted me to do it, meditating and getting into character.”
Anuku disclosed that the video was circulated by people attempting to tarnish his reputation. The repercussions were severe, causing him personal pain and professional setbacks:
“I lost friends, producers no longer contacted me for jobs. I lost a lot of money, I lost jobs, and I was jobless. People did not care about me. It was God who directed my footsteps to a good soul.”
Reflecting on his experience, Anuku expressed the emotional toll it took on him:
“I went through pain, if you were in my shoes you would feel it. I was heartbroken for these people to do this to me.”
The incident highlights the far-reaching consequences of misinformation and the importance of verifying facts before spreading content that can harm someone’s life and career.
