Veteran Nollywood actor, Hanks Anuku gives a heartbreaking account of how he was abandoned and stigmatized at his lowest point following a misconceived viral video.
It would be recalled that viral footage showing Hanks Anuku wandering the streets in tattered clothing caught the nation unaware a while ago.
This prompted strong reactions from fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry, suggesting that the beloved actor was experiencing a mental breakdown.
In a recent conversation with a Facebook content creator Lucky Udu, Anuku revealed that false rumours about his drug use and mental state, sparked by the video of him wandering the streets, had severely impacted his life.
He clarified that the videos were of him preparing for a movie role where he portrayed a madman.
Hanks Anuku criticized those who filmed him without understanding the context, accusing them of irresponsibly spreading false rumors that tarnished his reputation.
Despite his assurances that nothing was wrong, his family, including his twin brother and wife, chose to believe the damaging rumors of drug addiction, leaving him feeling isolated and hopeless.
Adding to his plight, Anuku recounted how the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN stigmatized him and how his colleagues in the film industry ceased communicating with him and stopped offering him roles.
Despite these challenges, Anuku stated that his resilience and unshakable faith in God helped him endure the difficult times. He now finds solace in his gradual recovery, slowly but surely regaining his footing in both his personal and professional life.
“That there was trying to get myself into character for a role that I was going to play; mad man role, someone who isn’t in his correct senses or frame of mind. I had to go naturally and visited the enviromnet to see how it’d play,” he said partly.
Speaking on the implications of the viral video, he added, “The video circulating about me is not what it seems. The videos have really affected my life. I lost all my friends, lost all my film roles, and lost money. Nothing happened to me. I am perfectly alright,” he said partly.
Watch the video below …
