Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, revealed that she was hospitalized due to panic attacks triggered by the unauthorized dissemination of her latest film, “Malaika.”
The high-budget production had its exclusive cinema release on December 15, 2023.
In a press briefing at the Federal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force in Alagbon, Ikoyi, on Wednesday, where individuals linked to the illicit distribution of the movie were paraded, the actress expressed her distress over the leakage of a film that cost nearly N500 million to produce.
Abraham recounted how she discovered the movie on social media, causing her immense emotional turmoil. She said of the incident, “If you look at me, you will know that I am actually not okay. I had to come from the hospital. I have been having panic attacks. Shooting a movie close to N500 million is difficult, and you see it out there.”
The actress described the surreal experience of finding her movie leaked alongside another, leading her to question whether she was dreaming. She expressed the emotional toll, stating, “I wanted to run mad; it was like my whole world was coming to an end in front of me.”
Abraham shared her efforts to counteract the piracy, involving her manager, husband, and the Filmone team. Desperation led to contacting tech experts and contacting Google and Telegram to break the illicit links. She recounted, “I don’t know what to do; this is my life; this is the only thing I do. That is why I decided to take it upon myself, my manager, and Filmone to fight piracy.”
The actress revealed her financial losses due to people opting to wait for the movie’s free online release. Despite the setback, she emphasized her commitment to the cause, stating, “It is not about the money now. It is about fighting a particular cause for the entertainment and creative industry, which I am happy about.”
