Nollywood veteran Hanks Anuku has opened up about the profound impact a viral video had on his career and mental health. The video, which falsely portrayed him as mentally unstable, caused significant damage to his professional and personal life.
In 2022, a disturbing video surfaced online showing Anuku dressed in tattered clothes and appearing to talk to himself. This video sparked widespread speculation that the actor was mentally unstable. Despite his colleague Shan George issuing a disclaimer to clarify the situation, many, including filmmaker Adanma Luke, continued to insist that Anuku was struggling with mental health issues. This led the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to launch an investigation into the matter.
For the first time, Anuku addressed the incident during a chat with content creator Lucky Udu. He revealed that the video was actually from a movie set and was taken out of context by individuals aiming to tarnish his reputation. He explained that he was preparing for a role where he had to portray a character who was not in his right frame of mind.
“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,” Anuku said. “So I had to go naturally visit the environment on how I would play it in that same neighbourhood. I was just showing the way the director wanted me to do it, meditating and getting into character.”
The fallout from the video was severe. Anuku described how it led to him losing friends and being blacklisted by filmmakers. “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,” he shared.
The emotional toll of the incident was significant. Anuku expressed his heartbreak and the pain he felt from being so severely misunderstood and misrepresented. “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,” he said.
The incident highlights the damaging effects of misinformation and the importance of context in understanding situations. Anuku’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the power of social media and the consequences of false narratives. Despite the challenges, Anuku’s resilience and faith have helped him navigate this difficult period.
The story of Hanks Anuku is a reminder of the human side of celebrities and the impact that public perception can have on their lives.
It underscores the need for empathy and understanding, especially when dealing with sensitive matters such as mental health.
The support of colleagues, friends, and fans can play a crucial role in helping individuals overcome such challenges and restore their professional and personal lives.
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